South Korea suspends DeepSeek AI over privacy concerns

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By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Kaleb Gillespie (Video Editor)

South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) temporarily suspended new downloads of the DeepSeek AI chatbot due to concerns over its handling of personal data. The suspension applies to downloads from Apple and Google app stores until the company ensures compliance with South Korea’s privacy laws.
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot, has faced global scrutiny over data security, potential censorship and compliance with national regulations.
The company is working to address concerns, appointing a legal representative in South Korea and updating its policies to meet local requirements.

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South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) has temporarily suspended new downloads of the DeepSeek AI chatbot due to concerns over its handling of personal data. The suspension applies to downloads from the Apple and Google app stores, though the chatbot remains accessible through a web browser.

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The commission stated that the suspension will remain in place until the company ensures compliance with South Korea’s privacy laws.

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What is DeepSeek, and why is it drawing global scrutiny?

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot, has rapidly gained global popularity since its release. It topped download charts in multiple countries.

The company claimed it built its AI system with far fewer high-end computer chips than competitors, raising questions about how it bypassed U.S. export restrictions designed to limit China’s access to advanced semiconductors.

DeepSeek’s emergence has raised concerns about China’s growing AI capabilities and their impact on the global tech landscape.

How have other countries responded to DeepSeek?

Beyond South Korea, Italy’s data protection authority blocked DeepSeek in January over privacy concerns. Taiwan and Australia advised government employees against using the app on official devices.

Authorities in multiple nations have cited concerns about data security, potential censorship and the app’s compliance with national regulations.

How is DeepSeek responding to the suspension?

DeepSeek appointed a legal representative in South Korea last week. The company acknowledged shortcomings in meeting local privacy requirements and is reportedly working to fully comply with its policies.

It has not yet publicly commented on the suspension.

What is China’s response?

China’s Foreign Ministry defended DeepSeek, stating that Chinese companies must comply with local laws when operating abroad.

Spokesman Guo Jiakun urged countries to avoid “politicizing economic, trade and technological issues.”

What’s next for DeepSeek?

The South Korean government has not provided a timeline for when DeepSeek might resume downloads.

Meanwhile, the chatbot remains under increased scrutiny as regulators assess its implications for data privacy and AI security worldwide.

Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Chatbot, ChatGPT, China, DeepSeek, People’s Republic of China

[craig nigrelli]

SOUTH KOREA TEMPORARILY BLOCKED NEW DOWNLOADS OF DEEPSEEK, A CHINESE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CHATBOT, CITING CONCERNS OVER HOW IT HANDLES PERSONAL DATA. THE SUSPENSION FOLLOWS GROWING SCRUTINY OF THE APP, WHICH SURGED IN GLOBAL POPULARITY SINCE ITS LAUNCH.

REGULATORS SAY DEEPSEEK’S WEB VERSION REMAINS ACCESSIBLE, BUT ITS AVAILABILITY ON APPLE AND GOOGLE APP STORES IS PAUSED UNTIL THE COMPANY ADDRESSES COMPLIANCE ISSUES UNDER SOUTH KOREA’S DATA PROTECTION LAWS. SOUTH KOREA’S PERSONAL INFORMATION PROTECTION COMMISSION SAID DEEPSEEK ACKNOWLEDGED FAILING TO FULLY COMPLY WITH REGULATIONS AND HAS NOW APPOINTED LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES IN THE COUNTRY.

THE MOVE COMES AFTER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN TAIWAN AND AUSTRALIA ALSO WARNED EMPLOYEES AGAINST USING DEEPSEEK DUE TO SECURITY CONCERNS. ITALY’S DATA PROTECTION AUTHORITY TOOK SIMILAR ACTION LAST MONTH, ORDERING DEEPSEEK TO BLOCK ITS CHATBOT UNTIL IT MET PRIVACY REQUIREMENTS.

DEEPSEEK’S RAPID RISE HAS SPARKED GLOBAL DEBATE OVER ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, NATIONAL SECURITY, AND TECH REGULATION. THE COMPANY CLAIMS ITS AI MODEL WAS BUILT WITH FEWER HIGH-END COMPUTER CHIPS THAN COMPETITORS, SENDING U.S. TECH STOCKS TUMBLING OVER FEARS CHINA MAY BE ADVANCING DESPITE WESTERN EFFORTS TO LIMIT ITS ACCESS TO AI HARDWARE.

MEANWHILE, CHINA’S FOREIGN MINISTRY DEFENDED DEEPSEEK, URGING COUNTRIES TO AVOID “POLITICIZING” ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ISSUES. BEIJING INSISTS IT DOES NOT REQUIRE CHINESE FIRMS TO COLLECT OR STORE DATA ILLEGALLY.

AS REGULATORS PUSH FOR STRICTER OVERSIGHT, THE SUSPENSION RAISES BROADER QUESTIONS ABOUT DATA PRIVACY, AI SECURITY, AND THE GLOBAL RACE FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DOMINANCE.

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