DeepSeek downloads suspended in South Korea amid data protection review

On Monday, South Korea’s data protection authority announced that new downloads of the Chinese AI application DeepSeek have been halted because of worries regarding personal data safety. The action follows DeepSeek’s acknowledgment that it did not completely adhere to certain data protection laws in South Korea.

The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) stated that the app’s service will continue after essential enhancements align with the nation’s privacy regulations. The suspension, effective Saturday, February 15, only impacts new downloads, so users who have already installed the app can keep using it. Furthermore, DeepSeek’s online service is still accessible in South Korea.

The Chinese startup designated legal representatives in South Korea last week and admitted that it had not fully taken into account the nation’s data protection regulations, as stated by the PIPC. This comes amid rising worldwide examination of the ways the AI application gathers and manages personal data.

DeepSeek, renowned for its AI chatbot that exhibits human-like reasoning, has encountered privacy issues due to its storage of all user data on servers located in China. This has raised concerns that Chinese authorities might obtain the information due to local data-sharing regulations. The company did not promptly reply to inquiries for a statement. In response to questions about the suspension, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry emphasized that the Chinese government is dedicated to safeguarding data privacy and security. The representative also mentioned that Beijing would never request any company to gather or retain data unlawfully.