South Korea Blocks DeepSeek AI App Over Data Concerns

According to South Korean officials on Monday, DeepSeek AI, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup, temporarily blocks downloads of its chatbot apps in South Korea pending a review of its handling of user data.

DeepSeek’s R1 chatbot stunned investors and industry insiders with its ability to match the functions of its Western competitors at a fraction of the cost.

But a number of countries have questioned how DeepSeek stores user data, which the firm says it collects in “secure servers located in the People’s Republic of China.”

South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission stated that Apple and Google removed DeepSeek’s apps from their local stores on Saturday evening. The company agreed to collaborate with the agency to strengthen privacy protections before relaunching the apps.

“The Chinese AI firm has acknowledged that considerations for domestic privacy laws were somewhat lacking”, the data protection agency said.

The agency added that aligning the app with local privacy laws would inevitably take a significant amount of time.

“To prevent further concerns from spreading, the commission recommended that DeepSeek temporarily suspend its service while making the necessary improvements,” it said.

The action does not affect users who have already downloaded DeekSeek on their phones or use it on personal computers. Nam Seok, director of the South Korean commission’s investigation division, advised South Korean users of DeepSeek to delete the app from their devices or refrain from entering personal information into the tool until the issues are resolved.

Many South Korean government agencies and companies have either blocked DeepSeek from their networks or prohibited employees from using the app for work, amid worries that the AI model was gathering too much sensitive information.