DeepSeek Launches Smarter Model, But Critics Say It’s “A Step Backward for Free Speech”

DeepSeek’s latest open-source language model may boast smarter logic and improved reasoning. But according to one developer, it’s not thinking any freer.

In a now-viral thread on X, pseudonymous AI dev “xlr8harder” accused the new DeepSeek R1-0528 of stepping backward on one of AI’s most crucial frontiers: free expression.

“This model is a big step backward for free speech,” the developer wrote. “Ameliorating this is that the model is open source… so the community can (and will) address this.”

DeepSeek Flags Abuses, But Dodges Blame

The biggest red flag? The model calls out Xinjiang internment camps as human rights violations. But when pressed for commentary that directly implicates the Chinese government, it suddenly goes silent. In one exchange, it acknowledged abuses—but refused to “argue in favor” of internment camps or offer unfiltered critiques of China.

The contradiction wasn’t lost on the dev community. As “xlr8harder” put it: “It’s interesting, though not entirely surprising, that it’s able to name the camps as an example of human rights abuses, but denies when asked directly.”

China’s AI Firewalls Move Deeper Into the Code

DeepSeek has pitched its new model as a leap forward in inference, logic, and reduced hallucinations. But those technical gains appear to come with an ideological tax. In censorship stress tests, the R1-0528 model showed tighter restrictions than any prior version—particularly on politically sensitive issues.

The result? A model that plays both sides. It points to state-linked abuses, then pulls back when it’s time to speak plainly.

Can the Open-Source Community Uncensor It?

Because the model is fully open source under a permissive license, some devs are already eyeing ways to strip out the baked-in censorship. But doing so raises deeper questions: How free can an “open” model really be when it won’t speak freely on its own?

In China’s evolving AI ecosystem, DeepSeek’s release feels like a cautionary tale. It may look smarter on paper—but under pressure, it knows when to bite its tongue.

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