Is DeepSeek private?
- Rank
- Score
- 141/149
- 28 out of 100
The short answer
DeepSeek scores 28 overall and ranks 141 of 149. Privacy is its strongest pillar, at 59.4. That is a mid-range Privacy score, not a high one, and it does not cancel the weaker pillars or the privacy incidents below. These are company trust scores for DeepSeek, not a score for a single model or chat.
DeepSeek's Privacy score
Privacy is 59.4, ahead of Safety (32.7), Transparency (21.4) and Security (0).
What the public record shows
- AIAAIC1891 (Medium, reported 29 January 2025): a Wiz researcher found a publicly open DeepSeek database. See the Wiz write-up.
- Italy's Garante ordered DeepSeek to limit processing of Italian users' data and opened an investigation (30 January 2025). See the Garante notice.
- Korea's PIPC examined DeepSeek, and app downloads were suspended in Korea on its recommendation (17 February 2025). See the PIPC notice.
- Incogni's 2025 privacy ranking scores DeepSeek 56.5. See the Incogni ranking.
How this is measured
Privacy is one of four equally weighted pillars. A mid-range Privacy score can sit beside a much lower overall score when other pillars are weak. See how we score.
DeepSeek is a Chinese AI company founded in 2023 by Liang Wenfeng and based in Hangzhou. It makes the DeepSeek chat app and the DeepSeek family of AI models. Its models are released openly and are known for strong performance at a low cost to train and run.
Is DeepSeek safe?
DeepSeek scores 28 out of 100 and ranks 141 of 149. Its strongest category is Privacy, and its weakest category is Security.
How is DeepSeek scored?
DeepSeek is scored out of 100 on Safety (25%), Transparency (25%), Security (25%), and Privacy (25%). See how we score.
Compare
Safety framework
Average used24.4This outside rating doesn't cover this company, so the average of the companies it covers is used.
Pre-release testing
0Points for each confirmed yes.
- No
Was the model tested for dangerous capabilities, such as biological, chemical or cyber risks?
Company claim0/50DeepSeek model card (opens in a new tab) · 15 Oct 2026 - No
Did an outside organisation test the model before release?
Company claim0/50DeepSeek model card (opens in a new tab) · 15 Oct 2026
Safety test results
72.4Average of two independent safety tests of the company's models: Stanford HELM Safety and Stanford AIR-Bench. Each test is compared with the best company's result.
- 89.3
Stanford HELM Safety mean score, averaged across the company's tested models: 87.4, against 97.9 for the top company of 13 tested
Independent sourcecrfm.stanford.edu (opens in a new tab) · 10 Nov 2026 - 55.5
Stanford AIR-Bench 2024 refusal rate, averaged across the company's tested models: 48.1, against 86.7 for the top company of 14 tested
Independent sourcecrfm.stanford.edu (opens in a new tab) · 10 Nov 2026
Incident record
40.2This check counts only when a source covers the company. With no events it holds the pillar, which is not proof of a clean record. Each recorded event takes points off the pillar, and serious or recent ones count most. Allegation checks, regulator actions and open investigations use half the severity load. AI Incident Database and AIAAIC Repository, last 24 months.
12 events
AllegationAI Incident Database (opens in a new tab) · 12 Nov 2026These are reports, not proven findings.
Date Event Severity 17 Oct 2026 AIID #1794 · China-Linked Espionage Group VAPOR PANDA Reportedly Used ARTEX AI Agents to Breach Government and Corporate Systems Worldwide17 Oct 2026 · Medium (reported) Medium (reported) 27 Sep 2026 AIID #1782 · Attackers Reportedly Used ARTEX, an AI Security-Testing Tool, to Steal Data from South Korean Financial Institutions27 Sep 2026 · Medium (reported) Medium (reported) 25 Sep 2026 AIID #1766 · Cybercriminal Reportedly Used Cairn AI Agents to Breach More Than 100 Company Websites25 Sep 2026 · Medium (reported) Medium (reported) 1 Jul 2025 AIAAIC1892 · DeepSeek accused of using OpenAI models to train AI system1 Jul 2025 · Low (reported) Low (reported) 1 Jul 2025 AIAAIC1893 · Study: DeepSeek explains biochemical interactions of mustard gas with DNA1 Jul 2025 · Low (reported) Low (reported) 1 Jul 2025 AIAAIC1895 · Study: DeepSeek repeats 30 per cent of false news statements1 Jul 2025 · Low (reported) Low (reported) 1 Jul 2025 AIAAIC1896 · Study: DeepSeek fails to block 100 percent of jailbreaking attempts1 Jul 2025 · Low (reported) Low (reported) 1 Jul 2025 AIAAIC1897 · DeepSeek tricked into setting out how to steal the Mona Lisa1 Jul 2025 · Low (reported) Low (reported) 1 Jul 2025 AIAAIC1916 · DeepSeek accused of denying claims of Uyghur genocide1 Jul 2025 · Low (reported) Low (reported) 25 Jun 2025 AIID #1188 · Multiple LLMs Reportedly Generated Responses Aligning with Purported CCP Censorship and Propaganda25 Jun 2025 · Medium (reported) Medium (reported) 12 Apr 2025 AIID #1026 · Multiple LLMs Allegedly Endorsed Suicide as a Viable Option During Non-Adversarial Mental Health Venting Session12 Apr 2025 · High (reported) High (reported) 29 Jan 2025 AIAAIC1891 · DeepSeek AI database exposes user data, chat histories (opens in a new tab)29 Jan 2025 · Medium (reported) Medium (reported)
Protecting children
50Points for each confirmed yes.
- No
Does the model card report child-safety tests or safeguards?
Company claim0/50DeepSeek model card (opens in a new tab) · 15 Oct 2026 - Yes
Does the privacy policy set a minimum age, or say the service is not directed at children?
Company claim50/50“Our Services are not aimed at children, and we do not knowingly process Personal Data from children.”
DeepSeek privacy policy (opens in a new tab) · 15 Oct 2026
Model documentation
50Points for each confirmed yes.
- Yes
Does the model card describe what the model can do?
Company claim25/25“DeepSeek-V4-Pro-Max, the maximum reasoning effort mode of DeepSeek-V4-Pro, significantly advances the knowledge capabilities of open-source…” MoreLess
“DeepSeek-V4-Pro-Max, the maximum reasoning effort mode of DeepSeek-V4-Pro, significantly advances the knowledge capabilities of open-source models, firmly establishing itself as the best open-source model available today.”
DeepSeek model card (opens in a new tab) · 15 Oct 2026 - Yes
Does the model card report test results?
Company claim25/25“Benchmark (Metric): AGIEval (EM), Shots: 0-shot, DeepSeek-V3.2-Base: 80.1, DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Base: 82.6, DeepSeek-V4-Pro-Base: 83.1”
DeepSeek model card (opens in a new tab) · 15 Oct 2026 - No
Does the model card state the model's limitations?
Company claim0/25DeepSeek model card (opens in a new tab) · 15 Oct 2026 - No
Does the model card describe safety safeguards?
Company claim0/25DeepSeek model card (opens in a new tab) · 15 Oct 2026
Training-data disclosure
25Average of two independent training-data checks: the Stanford index and an academic grading of EU AI Act training-data summaries.
- 25
Stanford Foundation Model Transparency Index: training-data indicators met
Independent sourceStanford FMTI (opens in a new tab) · 14 Oct 2026 - 25
EU AI Act training-data summary grades (AI Accountability Lab)
Independent sourceAI Accountability Lab (opens in a new tab) · 10 Nov 2026
Independent transparency index
32Stanford Foundation Model Transparency Index total, out of 100.
- 32
Transparency index score
Independent sourceStanford FMTI (opens in a new tab) · 14 Oct 2026
Transparency reports
025 points for each area where Partnership on AI names the company a leader in reporting on real-world impacts.
- 0
Partnership on AI practice-leader areas
Company claimPartnership on AI (opens in a new tab) · 10 Nov 2026
Public safety commitments
0Average of the commitments signed.
- No
Has it signed the EU code of practice for general-purpose AI?
Company claim0/100European Commission (opens in a new tab) · 14 Oct 2026 - No
Did it sign only the safety and security chapter?
Company claim0/50European Commission (opens in a new tab) · 14 Oct 2026 - No
Has it signed the Frontier AI Safety Commitments (Seoul 2024)?
Company claim0/100Frontier AI Safety Commitments (opens in a new tab) · 14 Oct 2026
Security programme and certifications
0Points for each confirmed yes.
- No
Is there a way to report security flaws, such as a bug bounty?
Company claim0/34No document found - No
Does it state it holds a SOC 2 Type II report?
Company claim0/33No document found - No
Does it state it holds ISO 27001 certification?
Company claim0/33No document found
Software vulnerabilities
Not enough dataData breaches
Not enough dataClear privacy policy
100Points for each confirmed yes.
- Yes
Does the privacy policy say what personal data is collected?
Company claim20/20“We collect Personal Data that you provide when you set up an account, such as your date of birth (where applicable), username (where applica…” MoreLess
“We collect Personal Data that you provide when you set up an account, such as your date of birth (where applicable), username (where applicable), email address and/or telephone number, and password.”
DeepSeek privacy policy (opens in a new tab) · 15 Oct 2026 - Yes
Does the privacy policy say whether your data is used to train AI?
Company claim20/20“To improve and develop the Services and to train and improve our technology, such as our machine learning models and algorithms.”
DeepSeek privacy policy (opens in a new tab) · 15 Oct 2026 - Yes
Does the privacy policy say how long data is kept?
Company claim20/20“We retain Personal Data for as long as necessary to provide our Services and for the other purposes set out in this Privacy Policy.”
DeepSeek privacy policy (opens in a new tab) · 15 Oct 2026 - Yes
Does the privacy policy say who your data is shared with?
Company claim20/20“We engage service providers that help us provide, support, and develop the Services and understand how they are used.”
DeepSeek privacy policy (opens in a new tab) · 15 Oct 2026 - Yes
Does the privacy policy explain your privacy rights?
Company claim20/20“Privacy rights that may be available to you include: the right to know whether and how we process your Personal Data; the right to access yo…” MoreLess
“Privacy rights that may be available to you include: the right to know whether and how we process your Personal Data; the right to access your Personal Data; the right to correct inaccuracies in your Personal Data; the right to delete Personal Data you’ve provided to us, or that we’ve obtained about you; the right to receive a portable copy of Personal Data you’ve provided to us, or that we’ve obtained about you, to the extent it is available in a digital format, and where technically feasible, in a format that allows you to transfer your Personal Data to another service, and the right to opt-out of the processing of your Personal Data for the purposes of targeted advertising, sale or profiling that could have legal or similarly consequential impact on you.”
DeepSeek privacy policy (opens in a new tab) · 15 Oct 2026
Training-data defaults
50100 if training is opt-in only, 50 if you can opt out, 0 if neither.
- No
Is your data used for training only if you opt in?
Company claim0/100DeepSeek privacy policy (opens in a new tab) · 15 Oct 2026 - Yes
Can you stop your data being used for training?
Company claim50/50“the right to opt-out of using your Personal Data for training our models or optimizing our technologies.”
DeepSeek privacy policy (opens in a new tab) · 15 Oct 2026
Export and delete your data
100Points for each confirmed yes.
- Yes
Can you get a copy of your data?
Company claim50/50“Privacy rights that may be available to you include: the right to know whether and how we process your Personal Data; the right to access yo…” MoreLess
“Privacy rights that may be available to you include: the right to know whether and how we process your Personal Data; the right to access your Personal Data; the right to correct inaccuracies in your Personal Data; the right to delete Personal Data you’ve provided to us, or that we’ve obtained about you; the right to receive a portable copy of Personal Data you’ve provided to us, or that we’ve obtained about you, to the extent it is available in a digital format, and where technically feasible, in a format that allows you to transfer your Personal Data to another service, and the right to opt-out of the processing of your Personal Data for the purposes of targeted advertising, sale or profiling that could have legal or similarly consequential impact on you.”
DeepSeek privacy policy (opens in a new tab) · 15 Oct 2026 - Yes
Can you delete your data?
Company claim50/50“Should you choose to do so, you may also copy or delete your chat history via your settings.”
DeepSeek privacy policy (opens in a new tab) · 15 Oct 2026
Privacy fines
Not enough dataIndependent privacy ratings
56.5Incogni's 2026 privacy-risk ranking: 100 is the lowest-risk platform rated, 0 the highest.
- 56.5
Incogni privacy-risk ranking
Independent sourceIncogni privacy ranking (opens in a new tab) · 10 Nov 2026
Risk governance
Average used26.6This outside rating doesn't cover this company, so the average of the companies it covers is used.
Regulator actions
65.8This check counts only when a source covers the company. With no events it holds the pillar, which is not proof of a clean record. Each recorded event takes points off the pillar, and serious or recent ones count most. Allegation checks, regulator actions and open investigations use half the severity load. UK competition regulator cases, US Justice Department settlements, last 5 years, and regulator actions and open investigations into the company's AI products at half severity, last 3 years.
2 events
Regulatoraiaaic.org (opens in a new tab) · 10 Nov 2026These are reports, not proven findings.
Date Event Severity 17 Feb 2025 https://pipc.go.kr/eng/user/ltn/new/noticeDetail.do?bbsId=BBSMSTR_000000000001&nttId=2784 · Personal Information Protection Commission (Korea): PIPC examination of DeepSeek; app downloads suspended in Korea on its recommendation17 Feb 2025 · investigation (half severity) investigation (half severity) 30 Jan 2025 https://www.garanteprivacy.it/home/docweb/-/docweb-display/docweb/10098477 · Garante per la protezione dei dati personali (Italy): Garante orders DeepSeek to limit processing of Italian users' data and opens an investigation30 Jan 2025 · action (half severity) action (half severity)
Court judgments
Not enough dataPrivacy contact and complaints
50Points for each confirmed yes.
- Yes
Is there a privacy contact, such as an email or a data protection officer?
Company claim50/50“If you have any questions about how we use your Personal Data, please contact privacy@deepseek.com or click the “Contact us” column on the w…” MoreLess
“If you have any questions about how we use your Personal Data, please contact privacy@deepseek.com or click the “Contact us” column on the website.”
DeepSeek privacy policy (opens in a new tab) · 15 Oct 2026 - No
Does it tell you that you can complain to a regulator?
Company claim0/50DeepSeek privacy policy (opens in a new tab) · 15 Oct 2026
Score history
Newest first. Only days when the score changed are listed.
2 Nov 2026
Score 28
Method 2 Nov 2026
-3 · Method update
28 Oct 2026
Score 31
Method 28 Oct 2026, update 2
-2
23 Oct 2026
Score 33
Method 21 Oct 2026
+3 · Data fix
21 Oct 2026
Score 30
Method 21 Oct 2026
-3 · Method update
19 Oct 2026
Score 33
Method Not recorded
+3 · Reason not recorded
14 Oct 2026
Score 30
Method Not recorded
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