(The lawyer in me couldn’t just skim the TOS—I had to roll up my sleeves, dig in, and uncover what’s really lurking behind the legalese.)

Most people don’t read the Terms of Service. But in this case, you probably should.

Because hidden in the fine print are details that could impact your privacy, security, and even your business strategy.

Here’s what stood out:

Data Retention: Deleting your account doesn’t mean your data is erased—DeepSeek keeps it.

Surveillance: The app has the right to monitor, process, and collect user inputs and outputs, including sensitive information.

Legal Exposure: DeepSeek is governed by Chinese law, meaning state authorities can demand access to your data.

Unilateral Changes: They can update the terms at any time—without your consent.

Translation? You’re not just using the AI. The AI is using you.

So before you hit “accept,” ask yourself: Are you comfortable with these trade-offs?

Mitch Jackson | links https://linktr.ee/mitchjackson

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Past episodes https://mitch-jackson.com/podcast