South Korea Temporarily Restricts Chinese AI App DeepSeek Over Privacy Concerns
South Korean officials have temporarily restricted the download of the Chinese AI Lab DeepSeek’s app from app stores in the country. The decision was made to allow authorities to assess how the company handles user data, according to the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC).
The PIPC stated that the app could be reinstated for downloads once DeepSeek complies with Korea’s privacy laws and implements necessary changes. For now, existing users of both the app and web service can continue using the platform. However, the agency has strongly advised users to avoid entering personal information until a final decision is made.
DeepSeek launched its service in South Korea in late January, prompting the PIPC to investigate its data collection and processing practices. The assessment revealed issues with the app’s third-party services and privacy policies. The PIPC also confirmed that DeepSeek had transferred South Korean user data to ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok.
DeepSeek has not yet responded to requests for comment. However, authorities noted that the company recently appointed a local representative in South Korea and acknowledged its lack of familiarity with Korean privacy laws when it initially launched. DeepSeek has expressed its willingness to collaborate with South Korean authorities to address the concerns.
This isn’t the first time DeepSeek has faced scrutiny. Earlier this month, South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, along with the police and state-run Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, temporarily blocked access to the app on official devices due to security concerns. Globally, DeepSeek has faced pushback as well. Australia has banned its use on government devices, Italy’s data protection authority, the Garante, has instructed the company to block its chatbot in the country, and Taiwan has prohibited government departments from using DeepSeek AI.
DeepSeek, based in Hangzhou, was founded by Liang Feng in 2023. The company gained attention for releasing DeepSeek R1, a free, open-source reasoning AI model positioned as a competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Despite its promising technology, the company now faces mounting pressure to address privacy and security concerns as it expands globally.
