DeepSeek's A.I. Chatbot vs. China's Censorship: A Surprising Encounter

In a quest to understand how DeepSeek's A.I. chatbot deals with the restrictions of China's internet censorship, I decided to put it through its paces. Living in China, I registered using a local phone number and internet connection, placing me squarely within the confines of the infamous Great Firewall.What I found was unexpected. On some issues, DeepSeek's chatbot provided information that would typically be filtered out on most domestic platforms, hinting at deeper knowledge than allowed. However, as the conversation progressed, the bot began to self-censor, deleting sensitive answers. It utilized a “thinking” feature, allowing users to glean meaningful information before it erased certain words or phrases.Despite showing some progress compared to conventional Chinese apps, DeepSeek's functioning mirrored typical online experiences in China. Certain inquiries elicited no response, as the developers appeared actively engaged in tightening the leash on its output. Testing from outside the firewall yielded similar responses, indicating that those abroad might be tapping into the same moderated experience.With its potential global reach, DeepSeek could influence how Beijing's narratives are distributed worldwide, raising significant questions about censorship and digital freedom in tech.