South Korea has taken a firm stance on data privacy temporarily restricting downloads of the Chinese AI app DeepSeek from local app stores The Personal Information Protection Commission PIPC announced that the restriction would remain in place until the app complies with the country’s data protection laws
Despite the ban on new downloads existing users can continue accessing the app and web service However South Korean authorities strongly advise users against entering personal information into DeepSeek until a final decision is made
DeepSeek developed by the Hangzhou-based AI lab of the same name entered the South Korean market in late January 2025 Shortly after its launch the PIPC initiated an investigation into the company’s data collection and processing practices
The main concern centers around data transfers to ByteDance the parent company of TikTok The investigation found that DeepSeek had sent South Korean user data to ByteDance raising national security and privacy concerns This prompted the government to impose restrictions while the company works on meeting regulatory requirements
A key issue cited by the PIPC is DeepSeek’s lack of compliance with local privacy laws The company reportedly admitted that it was not fully aware of South Korea’s strict data protection policies when it launched in the country
Following the scrutiny DeepSeek has taken initial steps to address South Korea’s concerns The company recently appointed a local representative to improve regulatory compliance and has pledged to cooperate closely with the authorities
DeepSeek has not provided a public statement in response to the government’s findings but has signaled its willingness to make the necessary adjustments
South Korea is not the only country taking a cautious approach toward DeepSeek due to its Chinese roots Governments in Australia Italy and Taiwan have already imposed restrictions on the AI company
Australia banned DeepSeek from government devices over national security concerns Italy’s data protection authority Garante ordered DeepSeek to block its chatbot service in the country Taiwan has prohibited government agencies from using DeepSeek AI
These measures reflect a broader trend of global scrutiny on Chinese AI firms especially when it comes to handling user data Governments worldwide remain cautious about the potential for unauthorized data access and misuse
DeepSeek was founded in 2023 by Liang Feng and has quickly gained attention in the AI industry The company made headlines with the launch of DeepSeek R1 a free open-source reasoning AI model that directly competes with OpenAI’s ChatGPT
Despite its technical advancements trust and regulatory compliance remain key challenges for the Chinese AI startup Countries are tightening their oversight of AI models particularly those developed in China due to concerns over data sovereignty and security risks
For now the future of DeepSeek in South Korea depends on how quickly the company can address privacy concerns and align with local regulations If it successfully updates its data policies and ensures transparency it may regain access to the South Korean market
However if further investigations reveal additional privacy violations South Korea could take stronger actions potentially leading to a complete ban on the app
The case of DeepSeek highlights a growing global debate around AI governance national security and data protection in an increasingly digital world As AI continues to evolve governments will likely tighten regulations on AI firms handling sensitive user information particularly when foreign entities are involved
