DeepSeek often restricted globally

"Across more than 60 regions, ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, or DeepSeek are identified as unavailable, restricted, or banned, affecting nearly 40 percent of the world population. The underlying issues are familiar to anyone who has implemented cloud services across borders. Data protection rules, sector specific confidentiality duties, and national security considerations drive decisions on whether and how a tool can be offered."

"DeepSeek has emerged as the most frequently restricted chatbot, reflecting concerns about data handling and storage locations. ChatGPT, Grok, and DeepSeek have each faced at least one government ban, with a total of 14 bans across 13 countries when not counting markets where companies such as Google were already constrained."

"The regulatory picture continues to sharpen as authorities ask practical questions. What personal data do these systems collect. Where is the data stored and for how long. What controls apply to minors. How transparent are the models and the operators that run them."

Artificial intelligence chatbots are increasingly integrated into work and learning environments, but their availability varies significantly worldwide. Governments are implementing jurisdiction over data flows, age controls, and transparency standards, forcing platforms to adapt country by country. DeepSeek emerges as the most restricted chatbot globally, followed by Grok and ChatGPT, with a combined 14 bans across 13 countries. Across more than 60 regions, these tools are unavailable or restricted, affecting nearly 40 percent of the world population. Regulatory concerns center on data collection practices, storage locations, minor protections, and model transparency. Legal requirements, corporate risk assessments, and national security considerations drive these restrictions, creating an uneven user experience based on location, sector, and organizational risk tolerance.

Read at App Developer Magazine