---
title: "DeepSeek Chat | Ethical Stack"
url: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/deepseek-chat/
catalog_version: f6baff2119d0e9158520da7fbe4232011dac79f25bd08757436d7a1dbd593db2
---

# DeepSeek Chat

Consumer assistant for chat, search, and multimodal tasks from DeepSeek.

Canonical profile: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/deepseek-chat/

Scope: DeepSeek consumer website/app; excludes DeepSeek API and third-party deployments of released models.

Published overall: 3.2; 5/6 dimensions rated.

Round the equal-weight mean of available numerical ratings to one decimal; require at least four of six for an overall score. BDS status stays outside the mean; for eligible profiles, a boycott target caps the final score at 2/10 and a pressure target subtracts one point (minimum 1). Not listed and not checked do not adjust the score.

## Energy practices

Finding: 2/10

Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/deepseek-chat/#energy

For the DeepSeek consumer website and app boundary, public documentation establishes the service or route but not its request-level physical footprint. The consumer policy and product pages reviewed do not document a user-facing output-token budget or a control with established resource effects. Electricity sourcing is not mapped to this route.

Reason: 1 + 1 reporting + 0 electricity + 0 controls = 2/10. This grades documented practices and transparency.

Argument: This practices/transparency assessment covers the DeepSeek consumer website and app boundary. The sources establish how the service or endpoint is exposed and do not establish a documented resource-saving control; they do not give a measured per-request energy, emissions or water value. The disclosure point reflects the stated operating boundary, not a product footprint, and company-wide electricity reporting is not attributed to this route.

Type: argument; confidence: medium

Scope (dimension): DeepSeek consumer website/app; excludes DeepSeek API and third-party deployments of released models.

Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded

Unknowns: The reviewed sources do not establish request-level electricity, emissions or water; the actual serving facility and its power mix are also not mapped to DeepSeek consumer website and app.

```json
{
  "method": "practices-transparency-v1",
  "scope": "DeepSeek consumer website/app; excludes DeepSeek API and third-party deployments of released models.",
  "components": {
    "disclosure": {
      "score": 1,
      "reason": "The reviewed documentation defines the DeepSeek consumer website and app boundary. It gives an operating-scope description, not a dated quantitative energy, carbon or water report for this route.",
      "sourceUrls": [
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-privacy-policy.html",
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-terms-of-use.html",
        "https://api-docs.deepseek.com/updates/"
      ]
    },
    "electricity": {
      "score": 0,
      "reason": "No reviewed source maps DeepSeek consumer website and app to a disclosed electricity mix or time-and-location-matched clean-power supply. The route's actual electricity use and emissions therefore remain unestablished.",
      "sourceUrls": [
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-privacy-policy.html",
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-terms-of-use.html",
        "https://api-docs.deepseek.com/updates/"
      ]
    },
    "demand": {
      "score": 0,
      "reason": "The consumer policy and product pages reviewed do not document a user-facing output-token budget or a control with established resource effects.",
      "sourceUrls": [
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-privacy-policy.html",
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-terms-of-use.html",
        "https://api-docs.deepseek.com/updates/"
      ]
    }
  },
  "actualImpactMeasured": false
}
```

- [DeepSeek Privacy Policy (updated February 10, 2026)](https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-privacy-policy.html) (primary; checked 2026-10-23)

- [DeepSeek Terms of Use](https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-terms-of-use.html) (primary; checked 2026-10-24)

- [DeepSeek API changelog](https://api-docs.deepseek.com/updates/) (primary; checked 2026-10-23)

## Training data

Finding: Depends on the model

Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/deepseek-chat/#training-rights

The consumer service may serve changing DeepSeek model versions; opt-out of using submitted conversations is separate from rights in the original model training corpus.

Reason: The consumer service may serve changing DeepSeek model versions; opt-out of using submitted conversations is separate from rights in the original model training corpus.

Argument: User prompts, model-improvement settings, and the original training corpus are different evidence questions. The reviewed product documentation does not identify a fixed model version and complete corpus-rights record for DeepSeek consumer website/app; excludes DeepSeek API and third-party deployments of released models., so this assessment remains unscored.

Type: argument; confidence: medium

Scope (profile): DeepSeek consumer website/app; excludes DeepSeek API and third-party deployments of released models.

Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded

Unknowns: Exact model selection, release version, source inventory, permissions, post-training data, and creator-remedy scope remain unresolved.

```json
{
  "method": "training-rights-evidence-v1",
  "scope": "The stated training release or selected model",
  "components": null,
  "routeDependency": "The consumer service may serve changing DeepSeek model versions; opt-out of using submitted conversations is separate from rights in the original model training corpus.",
  "modelReference": null
}
```

- [DeepSeek Privacy Policy (updated February 10, 2026)](https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-privacy-policy.html) (primary; checked 2026-10-23)

- [DeepSeek Terms of Use](https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-terms-of-use.html) (primary; checked 2026-10-24)

## Your data & privacy

Finding: 4/10

Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/deepseek-chat/#privacy

DeepSeek’s privacy policy covers prompts, files, voice and chat history, says personal data is processed and stored in China, and describes account controls including chat history management and a training opt-out.

Reason: No numerical score assigned because the reviewed evidence does not establish the route-specific controls needed for one.

Argument: The policy is explicit about data categories and China storage, and it describes options to manage chats and opt out of model-training use. However, those controls do not establish zero retention, a non-China processing route, or that all app features use identical handling.

Type: argument; confidence: medium

Scope (profile): DeepSeek consumer website/app; excludes DeepSeek API and third-party deployments of released models.

Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded

Unknowns: Feature-specific deletion timing, human review access, and jurisdiction-specific routing remain relevant; review the live policy and settings.

- [DeepSeek Privacy Policy (updated February 10, 2026)](https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-privacy-policy.html) (primary; checked 2026-10-23)

- [DeepSeek Terms of Use](https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-terms-of-use.html) (primary; checked 2026-10-24)

- [DeepSeek API changelog](https://api-docs.deepseek.com/updates/) (primary; checked 2026-10-23)

## Openness

Finding: 2/10

Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/deepseek-chat/#openness

This is a hosted service with a public interface but no documented self-hostable product runtime or weights in the reviewed sources.

Reason: The score reflects service-level inspectability and control, not usefulness or model quality.

Argument: The service provides a hosted product or API interface, while the reviewed product material does not expose the serving implementation and current model weights for independent deployment. This rates this service scope, not separately released model weights.

Type: argument; confidence: medium

Scope (profile): DeepSeek consumer website/app; excludes DeepSeek API and third-party deployments of released models.

Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded

Unknowns: SDKs, APIs, or model families may have separate licenses and do not make this service itself self-hostable.

- [DeepSeek Privacy Policy (updated February 10, 2026)](https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-privacy-policy.html) (primary; checked 2026-10-23)

- [DeepSeek Terms of Use](https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-terms-of-use.html) (primary; checked 2026-10-24)

- [DeepSeek API changelog](https://api-docs.deepseek.com/updates/) (primary; checked 2026-10-23)

## Worker protections

Finding: 1/10

Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/deepseek-chat/#labour

DeepSeek’s reviewed model, privacy and user-term materials do not establish employment conditions, a worker grievance route or labor assurance for its AI supply chain.

Reason: 1 + 0 pay & conditions + 0 worker voice & remedy + 0 evidence & follow-through = 1/10. This grades documented worker safeguards, not a measured rate of mistreatment.

Argument: The sources reviewed provide product, terms, or corporate information but no qualifying disclosure about conditions for data annotators, evaluators, moderators, or infrastructure workers. This is a disclosure gap within the checked materials, not evidence that workers are mistreated or that no labor policy exists. This entry carries the same developer/operator finding to DeepSeek Chat; it does not establish that this product was deployed under every cited relationship.

Type: argument; confidence: low

Scope (dimension): Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Co., Ltd.: the documented developer/operator record, not proof of deployment of DeepSeek Chat.

Research reviewed: 2026-10-24; evidence date: not recorded

Unknowns: Worker counts, locations, pay, labor protections, worker voice mechanisms, supplier coverage, and independent audit or remediation outcomes were not established in the sources reviewed.

```json
{
  "method": "worker-safeguards-evidence-v1",
  "entity": "deepseek",
  "company": "DeepSeek",
  "scope": "DeepSeek's workforce and disclosed contractors. Coverage of individual product teams may be incomplete.",
  "components": {
    "conditions": {
      "score": 0,
      "reason": "Reviewed sources provide no qualifying disclosure of worker conditions; this zero is limited to the checked material and is not an exhaustive claim.",
      "sourceUrls": [
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/DeepSeek-V4-public-summary-of-training-content.pdf",
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-terms-of-use.html",
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-privacy-policy.html"
      ]
    },
    "voice": {
      "score": 0,
      "reason": "No qualifying worker-voice mechanism or documented worker grievance outcomes were disclosed in the reviewed material.",
      "sourceUrls": [
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/DeepSeek-V4-public-summary-of-training-content.pdf",
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-terms-of-use.html",
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-privacy-policy.html"
      ]
    },
    "assurance": {
      "score": 0,
      "reason": "No independent labor audit results, worker-level corroboration, or remediation outcomes were disclosed in the reviewed material.",
      "sourceUrls": [
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/DeepSeek-V4-public-summary-of-training-content.pdf",
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-terms-of-use.html",
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-privacy-policy.html"
      ]
    }
  },
  "disclosureLimited": true,
  "meaning": "This grades documented worker safeguards, not a measured rate of mistreatment."
}
```

- [DeepSeek V4 public summary of training content](https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/DeepSeek-V4-public-summary-of-training-content.pdf) (primary; checked 2026-10-23)

- [DeepSeek Terms of Use](https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-terms-of-use.html) (primary; checked 2026-10-24)

- [DeepSeek Privacy Policy (updated February 10, 2026)](https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-privacy-policy.html) (primary; checked 2026-10-23)

## Military ties

Finding: 7/10

Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/deepseek-chat/#military-contracts

No DeepSeek military customer, contract or deployment is identified in the reviewed official sources.

Reason: 7 base + 0 safeguard adjustment = 7/10 (0 of 9 safeguard points; every 3 adds 1). No military relationship was established in the cited sources. This ranks above known defense ties without claiming a verified clean record.

Argument: DeepSeek’s reviewed official terms, privacy material and model disclosures do not identify a defense customer, military contract or deployment. Public model artifacts can be reused downstream, but that does not establish DeepSeek’s own military relationship or any customer-specific safeguard. This entry carries the same developer/operator finding to DeepSeek Chat; it does not establish that this product was deployed under every cited relationship.

Type: argument; confidence: low

Scope (dimension): Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Co., Ltd.: the documented developer/operator record, not proof of deployment of DeepSeek Chat.

Research reviewed: 2026-10-24; evidence date: not recorded

Unknowns: Complete contract texts, undisclosed customers, end-use restrictions, actual workload deployment, and independent compliance or outcome reports are unavailable in the reviewed public material.

```json
{
  "method": "military-ties-priority-v2",
  "entity": "deepseek",
  "company": "DeepSeek",
  "scope": "DeepSeek's relationships and safeguards. A company relationship does not identify every product or release used.",
  "components": {
    "restrictions": {
      "score": 0,
      "reason": "The reviewed terms or policy material contains no qualifying military-use restriction beyond general lawfulness/export compliance; this zero is limited to the reviewed source set.",
      "sourceUrls": [
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/DeepSeek-V4-public-summary-of-training-content.pdf",
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-terms-of-use.html",
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-privacy-policy.html"
      ]
    },
    "oversight": {
      "score": 0,
      "reason": "No military-specific review, enforcement, or remedy mechanism was disclosed in the sources reviewed.",
      "sourceUrls": [
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/DeepSeek-V4-public-summary-of-training-content.pdf",
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-terms-of-use.html",
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-privacy-policy.html"
      ]
    },
    "transparency": {
      "score": 0,
      "reason": "No military-specific relationship or military-specific transparency policy was disclosed in the materials reviewed; this is a scoped disclosure finding.",
      "sourceUrls": [
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/DeepSeek-V4-public-summary-of-training-content.pdf",
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-terms-of-use.html",
        "https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-privacy-policy.html"
      ]
    }
  },
  "relationship": "not-established",
  "relationshipReason": "DeepSeek’s model disclosures and user terms reviewed here do not identify a military contract, named defense customer, or military deployment. Its open model artifacts permit downstream uses, but that does not establish DeepSeek’s own military relationship.",
  "score": 7,
  "baseScore": 7,
  "safeguardPoints": 0,
  "safeguardAdjustment": 0,
  "rawScore": 7,
  "cap": null,
  "disclosureLimited": true,
  "meaning": "Known military relationships take priority over missing safeguards. The rating does not establish the probability of an undisclosed contract."
}
```

- [DeepSeek V4 public summary of training content](https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/DeepSeek-V4-public-summary-of-training-content.pdf) (primary; checked 2026-10-23)

- [DeepSeek Terms of Use](https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-terms-of-use.html) (primary; checked 2026-10-24)

- [DeepSeek Privacy Policy (updated February 10, 2026)](https://cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-privacy-policy.html) (primary; checked 2026-10-23)

## BDS targets

Finding: Not listed

Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/deepseek-chat/#israel-palestine

We did not find DeepSeek among the named targets in the two official BNC campaign lists checked on 2026-10-23. This is a limited list check, not BDS approval.

Reason: BDS campaign status is a factual category, not a 1–10 ethical rating.

Argument: DeepSeek is not a named target in the checked lists, but BDS uses selective campaigns, so absence cannot establish a clean record. Running downloaded weights locally is a different decision from paying the developer or a cloud host; check the host as well. This entry carries the same developer/operator finding to DeepSeek Chat; it does not establish that this product was deployed under every cited relationship.

Type: evidence; confidence: medium

Scope (dimension): Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Co., Ltd.: the documented developer/operator record, not proof of deployment of DeepSeek Chat.

Research reviewed: 2026-10-23; evidence date: not recorded

Unknowns: This review covers the named targets in the BNC consumer/pressure guide and No Tech campaign, not every BDS campaign, local group, investment or supplier. Lists and ownership can change. A company’s absence from these lists is not an endorsement or proof that it has no relevant relationships.

- [BNC: live guide to consumer boycott and pressure targets](https://bdsmovement.net/Guide-to-BDS-Boycott) (campaign; checked 2026-10-23)

- [BNC: No Tech for Oppression, Apartheid or Genocide campaign](https://bdsmovement.net/no-tech-oppression-apartheid-or-genocide) (campaign; checked 2026-10-23)

## Reading the evidence

- Assessments are provisional editorial judgments. Cite the profile and the underlying sources, and retain confidence, scope and unknowns.

- Unknown, not-applicable and model-dependent are different states. Missing evidence does not establish good or bad conduct.

- Company-level evidence does not establish use of a particular product or model. Account plan, model, host and route can change an assessment.

- Energy scores describe documented practices and transparency, not measured request emissions. Zero component points can mean an evidence gap.

- Published overall scores require at least four of six numerical dimensions. Preserve coverage and BDS adjustments; BDS itself is categorical.

- No named BDS target found is limited to the reviewed campaign sources and is not approval. Personalized priorities do not change the published overall score.

- Review and source-check dates describe the research, not this deployment. Fetch current primary sources when the decision requires current verification.

Methodology: https://ethicalstack.ai/methodology/