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DeepSeek AI in Italy: why it still works despite the Official Ban


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In January 2025, the Italian privacy authority (Garante) ordered the removal of DeepSeek’s AI app from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in Italy. This move was widely reported as a “ban,” leading many to believe that DeepSeek was no longer accessible in the country. However, the reality is more nuanced. As of late June 2025, Italian users continue to report that DeepSeek works for them—both on devices where the app was already installed and through the web interface.


What the Ban Actually Covers

The Garante’s order, published on January 30, 2025, targeted only the distribution of DeepSeek’s mobile app via official channels:

  • DeepSeek was removed from the Italian Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

  • The order did not target already-installed apps or the web version.

  • There was no national-level internet block, no DNS restriction, and no demand for ISPs to filter DeepSeek’s backend servers.

As a result, the block has been more about limiting new downloads than disabling the service itself.


How Italian Users Still Access DeepSeek

Despite the removal from official app stores, there are several ways Italian users continue to access DeepSeek:


1. Existing Installations Remain Functional

Users who downloaded the DeepSeek app before January 30, 2025, have reported that it continues to work without interruption. The Garante’s action did not require disabling or deleting these existing installs, and the app still communicates with DeepSeek’s servers.

  • Reddit user ivlia-x asked, “Sorry but what did they block? It’s working normally for me,” in response to news of the ban.

  • Vanity Fair Italia confirmed, “For those who already downloaded it, the app keeps working regularly.”


2. The Web Version Is Unaffected

The Garante’s order focused only on mobile app distribution. The DeepSeek web interface (chat.deepseek.com or platform.deepseek.com) is accessible from Italy with no VPN or workaround required. This version offers full chatbot functionality and has never been geo-blocked.

  • Wired.it noted that the desktop/web version remained online even after app store removal.


3. Sideloading and Store Region Switching

Some Italian users have bypassed the ban by:

  • Sideloading the APK on Android devices, using alternative app sites like Uptodown.

  • Switching the region of their Apple ID or Google account to a country where DeepSeek is not blocked, allowing them to download updates or reinstall the app.

While not officially sanctioned, these methods remain technically legal and widely used.


Ongoing User Testimonies in Italy

Real-world feedback confirms that the block is partial:

  • On Reddit, multiple Italian users have posted about successfully installing or using DeepSeek after the supposed ban.

  • Tech publications like Vanity Fair Italia and Wired.it state openly that the app works for pre-ban users and that the web version remains available.

  • No credible reports exist of DeepSeek being blocked at the ISP level or of any mass outages in Italy.


Privacy and Regulatory Risks

The core reason for the Garante’s order was concern over user data security—especially regarding how DeepSeek handles and stores personal data, possibly outside the EU. This risk is still present for anyone using DeepSeek in Italy, regardless of how they access it. New investigations by the Italian competition authority (AGCM), announced in June 2025, focus on whether DeepSeek properly warns users about AI inaccuracies and data handling.

Users should be aware that by sideloading, changing store regions, or accessing third-party web versions, they may lose out on official updates, app store security checks, and privacy protections that come with regulated distribution channels.


What to Expect Next

DeepSeek’s team claims to be in ongoing discussions with EU regulators but has not announced a timeline for full compliance or re-entry into the Italian app stores. Unless the Garante lifts the order, new downloads from official channels will remain blocked. However, with no technical barriers in place for existing users or web access, DeepSeek’s chatbot is likely to remain available—at least for now.


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