Key Points:
- South Korea blocks new downloads of Chinese AI app DeepSeek over data protection concerns.
- The chatbot, which recently surpassed OpenAI’s ChatGPT in U.S. popularity, faces increasing scrutiny over security, privacy, and ethics.
- Italy, Australia, and the U.S. have also taken action against the app due to regulatory and national security concerns.
- DeepSeek has appointed legal representatives in South Korea and acknowledged gaps in compliance with local privacy laws.
As per an article in The Independent, South Korea has become the latest country to impose restrictions on the Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek over data privacy concerns, following similar moves by other nations. The decision follows mounting global scrutiny over the app, which recently overtook OpenAI’s ChatGPT as the most popular AI tool in the United States.
The country’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) announced that new downloads of DeepSeek will be blocked while it conducts a review of the app’s handling of user data. The watchdog noted that DeepSeek admitted to having “somewhat lacking” compliance with South Korea’s domestic privacy laws.
“To prevent further concerns from spreading, the commission recommended that DeepSeek temporarily suspend its service while making the necessary improvements,” the PIPC stated. While the restriction applies to new downloads, DeepSeek’s web-based service remains accessible within South Korea.
DeepSeek’s rapid global expansion has sparked widespread concerns regarding its refusal to answer politically sensitive queries, such as those related to the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. These issues have fueled fears over state-influenced censorship and data security risks.
The South Korean ban follows similar regulatory actions in other countries. Last month, Italy’s Garante ordered DeepSeek to halt operations in the country, citing non-compliance with privacy policies. In the United States, lawmakers recently proposed a bill that would prohibit users from engaging with DeepSeek or any other AI developed in China, with potential penalties of up to 20 years in prison for violators. Meanwhile, Australia has classified DeepSeek as a “national security risk” and banned the app on government-issued devices.
In response to the growing scrutiny, DeepSeek has appointed legal representatives in South Korea to address regulatory concerns. The Chinese government has also defended its approach to data security. At a press briefing on February 6, a spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Beijing “attaches great importance to data privacy and security” and emphasized that the government does not compel companies to collect or store data in violation of laws.
Despite the mounting bans and restrictions, DeepSeek has yet to issue an official response to South Korea’s latest move.
