South Korea Blocks DeepSeek AI Downloads - Latest News
South Korea Restricts DeepSeek App Amid Data Privacy Concerns
Officials in South Korea have implemented temporary restrictions on the download of the DeepSeek application, developed by a Chinese AI Lab, from local app stores. This action is being taken while a thorough assessment is conducted regarding the company’s handling of user data.
Privacy Law Compliance Required
The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) stated that the app will be made available for download once DeepSeek demonstrates full compliance with Korean privacy regulations and implements the necessary adjustments.
Currently, existing users of the app and web service will not be affected by these restrictions. However, the data protection authority has issued a strong recommendation advising users to refrain from submitting any personal information to DeepSeek until a final determination is reached.
Investigation Reveals Data Transfer
Following the launch of the DeepSeek service in South Korea in late January, the PIPC initiated contact with the Chinese AI lab to understand its data collection and processing practices. The evaluation subsequently identified concerns related to DeepSeek’s third-party services and privacy policies.
The PIPC has confirmed to TechCrunch that its investigation revealed the transfer of data belonging to South Korean users to ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok.
DeepSeek's Response and Acknowledgement
DeepSeek has not yet issued a response to requests for comment. The agency noted that the company recently designated a local representative in South Korea and admitted a lack of familiarity with the nation’s privacy laws at the time of its service launch.
Last Friday, DeepSeek also indicated its commitment to close collaboration with Korean authorities.
Broader Security Concerns and Restrictions
Earlier in the month, several South Korean entities – including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the police force, and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power – temporarily blocked access to DeepSeek on official devices, citing security risks.
International Scrutiny of DeepSeek
South Korea is not alone in exercising caution regarding DeepSeek, given its Chinese origins. Australia has prohibited the use of the AI tool on government devices due to similar security concerns.
Furthermore, Italy’s data protection authority, the Garante, has directed DeepSeek to block its chatbot within the country, and Taiwan has banned its government departments from utilizing DeepSeek AI.
About DeepSeek
Founded in 2023 by Liang Feng and based in Hangzhou, DeepSeek released DeepSeek R1, an open-source reasoning AI model offered free of charge. This model is positioned as a competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
- DeepSeek R1 is a free, open-source AI model.
- The company was founded in 2023 by Liang Feng.
- DeepSeek is based in Hangzhou, China.
