eSAFETY GUIDE

DeepSeek

14+
Minimum age according to DeepSeek
14+ Minimum age according to DeepSeek

What is DeepSeek?

DeepSeek R1 is an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant or large language model built by the Chinese company DeepSeek, which is available through web browsers, its dedicated apps, and third-party apps and services. You can ask questions, do web searches and get summaries of documents you upload, among an increasing number of features.

DeepSeek’s models try to mimic human reasoning, and the AI assistant explains its reasoning before providing an answer in a conversation. This feature is called Chain of Thought (CoT) reasoning and is described by the company as the software ‘thinking out loud’ in real time. This feature allows developers to spot errors and make improvements.

DeepSeek works similarly to ChatGPT. But unlike ChatGPT, DeepSeek’s AI model is open source, meaning that the community of users can analyse, make use of and even improve the software. DeepSeek also uses a fraction of the processing power needed by other comparable AI models.

As with other AI models, DeepSeek may provide answers that sound believable but are factually inaccurate, give biased responses, or may action inappropriate or harmful requests. There are also concerns around data security and privacy while using DeepSeek as well as reports of censorship.

Website: www.deepseek.com
Apps: Android app, Apple iOS app

How do people use DeepSeek?

Learn more about the benefits and risks associated with how people use AI assistants like DeepSeek.

DeepSeek is used for: anonymous communication, encrypted, gaming, in-app purchasing, location sharing, messaging/online chat, photo/video sharing, screen capture and voice chat.

How can you protect your personal information?

This link is provided by DeepSeek:

  • Privacy policy
    The types of data that DeepSeek collects, how it used and who has access to it.

Key safety links

This link is provided by DeepSeek:

  • Terms of use
    The terms you agree to when using DeepSeek, including intellectual property rules and restrictions on inappropriate uses such as prompting the chatbot to produce pornographic material or hate speech.

Last updated: 11/02/2025

The eSafety Guide helps you find out how to protect your personal information and report harmful content on common social media, games, apps and sites. Entries are for information only and are not reviews or endorsements by eSafety. Before choosing to use any online service or platform it’s best to:

  • do your own research to understand the risks and benefits
  • check the age rating and requirements
  • consider privacy
  • check the permissions and other settings
  • check the in-app reporting options.

If you are a parent or carer who is deciding whether a child should be allowed to use an online service or platform, you can also:

  • consider your child's readiness for the types of content and experiences they might encounter
  • help them understand what to do if they need help
  • provide ongoing support and monitoring, for example through regular check-ins with your child
  • agree to some rules about use of each service or platform.

To find out more, you can read the App checklist for parents, as well as information about parental controls in social media, games and apps and mental wellbeing resources for families.