What happened

When asked about the Uyghur genocide, DeepSeek asserted that the claim was a "severe slander of China's domestic affairs" and "completely unfounded". 

The AI chatbot, which has been downloaded over three million times worldwide, responded by stating, "We firmly oppose any country, organisation, or individual using so-called human rights issues to interfere in China's internal affairs". 

Uyghur activists and experts expressed deep worry about DeepSeek's responses:

• Rahima Mahmut, who fled China in 2000, stated that "The Chinese government is trying to erase the Uyghur people by employing AI to mislead the public".

• Zumretary Arkin, who has not heard from her family since 2017, called DeepSeek's rewriting of her homeland's history "deeply worrying".

• Dr. William Matthews, a researcher on China's technological rise, warned that DeepSeek's censorship should be "extremely concerning" as it becomes a popular platform for information.

Why it happened

DeepSeek's denial of the Uyghur genocide aligns with the Chinese government's official stance, which rejects these allegations and claims that its policies in Xinjiang are necessary to prevent terrorism and promote development.