South Korea suspends new downloads of DeepSeek over data privacy concerns

South Korea has temporarily halted new downloads of the Chinese AI app DeepSeek, citing concerns over the company’s compliance with local data protection laws. The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) announced that the suspension, which took effect on Saturday, will remain in place until DeepSeek fully aligns its policies with South Korea’s privacy regulations. However, existing users can continue accessing the app and its web-based services within the country.

Authorities have advised users to refrain from inputting personal information into DeepSeek until further notice. The decision follows an evaluation of the app’s data collection and third-party sharing practices, which raised red flags regarding the potential transfer of user data to external entities. The PIPC confirmed that its investigation revealed data transfers from South Korean users to ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, intensifying scrutiny over DeepSeek’s operations.

DeepSeek, which entered the South Korean market in late January, recently appointed legal representatives in the country. The company acknowledged unfamiliarity with South Korea’s stringent privacy laws upon launch and expressed willingness to cooperate with regulatory authorities. Last Friday, DeepSeek stated that it would collaborate closely with South Korean officials to ensure compliance and address any outstanding concerns.

This regulatory action in South Korea is not an isolated case. Earlier in February, the country’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, police departments, and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power imposed temporary restrictions on the use of DeepSeek on official devices, citing security risks. Additionally, Italy’s data protection authority, the Garante, previously ordered DeepSeek to block its chatbot in Italy due to unresolved privacy concerns. Taiwan has banned government departments from using DeepSeek AI, while Australia has prohibited its use on government-issued devices over security apprehensions.

The Chinese foreign ministry has defended its country’s stance on data security, stating that Beijing prioritizes privacy protection and does not compel companies to collect or store data unlawfully. Meanwhile, DeepSeek has yet to issue an official response to the latest developments.