Is DeepSeek safe for business data?
DeepSeek’s privacy policy says it uses your data to train and improve its models and stores what it collects in the People’s Republic of China, and it describes no business plan with different rules.
Training, plan by plan
- Used for training: DeepSeek app and website: used, with no opt-out setting named.
What it does with your data
| Question | DeepSeek app and website |
|---|---|
| Trains on your data by default? | Yes. DeepSeek’s privacy policy lists training and improving its machine learning models among the ways it uses your data. It also lists a right to opt out of training, but the policy names no setting for it. Read on October 23, 2026 · source: cdn.deepseek.com |
| How long chats are kept | For as long as you have an account, and longer when needed for legal reasons, a legitimate business interest, or a violation of its terms. Read on October 23, 2026 · source: cdn.deepseek.com |
| Who can read them | Not described in the privacy policy we read. Not confirmed · page checked: cdn.deepseek.com, October 23, 2026 |
| Where data is stored | In the People’s Republic of China. DeepSeek says it directly collects, processes, and stores your personal data there. Read on October 23, 2026 · source: cdn.deepseek.com |
| How to delete | Delete your chat history in your settings. If you delete your account, it cannot be reactivated and its content cannot be recovered. Read on October 23, 2026 · source: cdn.deepseek.com |
How to turn training off
- Treat anything typed into DeepSeek as stored in the People’s Republic of China, as its policy states. Source: cdn.deepseek.com
- Manage, copy, or delete your chat history in your DeepSeek settings. Source: cdn.deepseek.com
Safer setup for a small team
Keep customer and company data out of the DeepSeek app and website. If your team wants to try it, use only public, non-sensitive text.
Plan to approve:
Setting to check:
A line for your AI policy: Staff do not put customer or company information into DeepSeek. It is not an approved tool for work.
Want this in your team’s AI policy? The SafeStart kit, a plain-English AI policy and training for small teams, is coming soon.
Questions about your own setup? Write to hello@terrapilgrim.org.
What changed
No changes recorded since we first published this page on October 23, 2026. Every change goes in the change log.
Sources (1)
- cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-privacy-policy.html · read on October 23, 2026
“To improve and develop the Services and to train and improve our technology, such as our machine learning models and algorithms.”
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