When asked about topics such as the Tiananmen Square massacre, persecution of Uyghur Muslims, or Taiwan’s sovereignty, DeepSeek either dodges the question or parrots Beijing’s official rhetoric. This is not a bug—it’s a feature. Unlike Western AI models, which, for all their flaws, still allow for a broader range of discourse, DeepSeek operates within strict ideological parameters. It’s a stark reminder that AI is only as objective as the people—or governments—who control it. //

The question we must ask ourselves is simple: If AI can be programmed to push a state-sponsored narrative in China, what’s stopping corporations, activist organizations, or even Western governments from doing the same?

Don’t think American companies would stop at weighting their algorithms to ensure diversity. Over the past few years, we’ve seen a growing trend of corporations aligning themselves with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics. This framework prioritizes social justice causes and other politically charged issues, distorting how companies operate. Over the same period of time, many social media companies have taken aggressive steps to suppress content considered “misinformation.”. //

Without transparency and accountability, AI could become the most powerful propaganda tool in human history—capable of filtering search results, rewriting history, and nudging societies toward preordained conclusions. //

This moment demands vigilance. The public must recognize the power AI has over the flow of information and remain skeptical of models that show signs of ideological manipulation. Scrutiny should not be reserved only for AI developed in adversarial nations but also for models created by major tech companies in the United States and Europe. //

DeepSeek has provided a glimpse into a world where AI is used to enforce state-approved narratives. If we fail to confront this issue now, we may wake up in a future where AI doesn’t just provide answers—it decides which questions are even allowed to be asked.