Marriott bans DeepSeek?
With the high cost of data breaches, companies are prioritizing data security over technological innovation
Recent reports have surfaced suggesting that Marriott International has instructed its employees to uninstall the Chinese AI application, DeepSeek, within a set timeframe. Non-compliance could lead to restrictions on accessing vital internal tools like emails and management systems. While Marriott has not officially confirmed or denied the reports, the move is being seen as a proactive measure to address long-standing data security concerns.
Key takeaways
- Unconfirmed reports: Marriott has neither confirmed nor denied claims regarding the mandatory uninstallation of DeepSeek;
- Data security focus: The decision, if accurate, is more likely rooted in safeguarding data rather than targeting a specific AI provider or country;
- Past data breaches: Marriott has faced several major data breaches from 2014 to 2020, resulting in a USD 52 million settlement across all U.S. states and territories. This history has made the company cautious with applications involving customer data;
- AI risks: Although AI tools like DeepSeek offer advanced data processing and generation capabilities, they also pose significant security risks. Marriott’s move appears to be a standard corporate security protocol;
- No evidence of market discrimination: The restriction does not seem to be driven by any intent to exclude Chinese technology but rather aligns with general corporate policies regarding sensitive data protection.
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