South Korea Puts Temporary Ban on Chinese AI App DeepSeek Over Data Privacy Issues

In a significant move aimed at protecting user data, South Korean officials have temporarily restricted the downloading of DeepSeek’s app from app stores across the country. This decision follows concerns regarding how the Chinese AI lab, based in Hangzhou, is handling personal information.

Safety First: Evaluating User Data Management

The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) announced that the app will return to app stores once DeepSeek meets South Korea’s stringent privacy regulations. Although users can continue to use the existing app and web service, the PIPC has strongly advised current users to refrain from sharing personal information with the service until a final evaluation is completed.

Since DeepSeek made its foray into the South Korean market last January, the PIPC proactively reached out to the company for clarity on their data collection and processing methods. During their investigation, officials discovered troubling issues related to DeepSeek’s third-party services and privacy policies, particularly noting that South Korean user data had been transferred to ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company.

Navigating Unfamiliar Terrain

DeepSeek has acknowledged its unfamiliarity with South Korean privacy laws upon launching its service and has taken steps to rectify this by appointing a local representative in the country. The company has also stated its commitment to cooperating with local authorities closely. However, the app’s recent restrictions are not the first signs of caution in South Korea. Earlier this month, various government bodies, including the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, temporarily blocked the use of DeepSeek on official devices, citing similar security concerns.

Global Caution: A Broader Perspective

South Korea isn’t the only nation treading lightly around DeepSeek. Australia has prohibited the app’s use on government devices due to security worries. Meanwhile, Italy’s data protection authority has mandated the company to suspend its chatbot, and Taiwan has barred government departments from using DeepSeek AI altogether.

A Competitive Offering

Founded by Liang Feng in 2023, DeepSeek offers the DeepSeek R1, a free, open-source reasoning AI model aiming to rival established players like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. As AI technology continues to evolve, the intersection of data privacy and innovation remains a critical challenge.

Conclusion

With ongoing scrutiny and necessary changes ahead, it will be interesting to see how DeepSeek adapts to South Korea’s regulatory landscape. As privacy concerns continue to shape discussions around AI technology, stakeholders must balance innovation with robust data protection practices.

The AI Buzz Hub team is excited to see where these breakthroughs take us. Want to stay in the loop on all things AI? Subscribe to our newsletter or share this article with your fellow enthusiasts.