South Korea has temporarily restricted the Chinese AI company DeepSeek’s app from being downloaded on local app stores, citing concerns over how the company handles user data. The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) stated that DeepSeek’s app would only be available for download again once it aligns with South Korea’s privacy laws and addresses identified issues.
While existing users can still access the app and its web service, the PIPC has advised current users to refrain from entering personal information until a final decision is made regarding the app’s compliance. The concerns stem from the collection and processing of personal data by DeepSeek, which was flagged during the agency’s investigation. The PIPC found that DeepSeek had transferred data of South Korean users to ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok.
In response, DeepSeek has acknowledged its lack of familiarity with South Korea’s privacy laws when launching the service and has committed to working closely with the Korean authorities to resolve the issue. The company has also appointed a local representative in South Korea.
This move is part of a broader pattern of caution towards DeepSeek due to its Chinese origins. Other countries, including Australia, Italy, and Taiwan, have imposed restrictions on the app. For example, Australia has banned the app from government devices, while Italy’s data protection authority instructed the company to block its chatbot in the country.
DeepSeek, founded in Hangzhou in 2023, launched its DeepSeek R1 AI model as a competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Despite the privacy and security concerns, the company has not yet responded to media requests for comment.
