Seoul: South Korea’s data protection authority has suspended new downloads of the Chinese artificial intelligence app DeepSeek, citing non-compliance with the country’s privacy regulations. The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) announced on Monday that DeepSeek had acknowledged failing to fully adhere to certain provisions of South Korea’s data protection laws.
According to the PIPC, the restriction, which took effect on Saturday, prevents new downloads of the app in South Korea. However, the AI-powered platform remains accessible via its web service. The commission emphasized that DeepSeek must implement necessary improvements to align with the country’s privacy regulations before the suspension is lifted.
South Korea's data protection authority suspended new downloads of the Chinese AI app DeepSeek in the country over data privacy concerns while in China, Tencent shares jumped on news it was testing integration of the new app into its messaging apps https://t.co/7y8vJxacUs pic.twitter.com/6X2Gzxr0Nh
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 17, 2025
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, recently appointed legal representatives in South Korea and admitted to having partially overlooked aspects of the nation’s data protection laws, the PIPC noted.
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The scrutiny over DeepSeek extends beyond South Korea. Last month, Italy’s data protection authority, Garante, ordered the company to block its chatbot in the country, citing unresolved concerns regarding its privacy policy.
DeepSeek has yet to issue an official response to requests for comment on the suspension in South Korea.
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When questioned about previous efforts by South Korean government agencies to block DeepSeek, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry stated during a February 6 briefing that the Chinese government prioritizes data privacy and security, ensuring compliance with legal frameworks. The spokesperson also affirmed that Beijing does not instruct any company or individual to collect or store data in violation of established laws.
