Data Privacy Concerns Lead South Korea to Pause DeepSeek AI Downloads
South Korea has suspended new downloads of the Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek, effective February 15, 2025, due to concerns over its compliance with the country’s data protection laws. The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) cited issues with the app's communication functions and its handling of personal data, particularly in relation to third-party services.
While the app remains accessible via the web, existing users have been warned not to input personal information until necessary changes are made. DeepSeek acknowledged its failure to fully consider South Korea's privacy laws upon launch and agreed to make adjustments to meet the country’s data protection standards.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) has also raised concerns over DeepSeek's excessive data collection, including vulnerabilities in the Android and iOS versions that transmit unencrypted data. The PIPC will continue to monitor the situation to ensure compliance, and the suspension will remain in place until the necessary improvements are implemented.
Source: https://thehackernews.com/2025/02/south-korea-suspends-deepseek-ai.html