South Korea has blocked new downloads of China´s DeepSeek AI Chatbot due to violations of personal data protection laws. The Personal Information Protection Commission announced the DeepSeek ban in South Korea on Saturday evening, forcing Apple and Google to remove the app from their stores.
Officials stated that DeepSeek could return once the company fixes its compliance issues. After making global headlines, DeepSeek quickly gained popularity in South Korea, drawing over a million weekly users.
The chatbot´s rapid rise, however, raised privacy and security concerns among regulators worldwide. Several South Korean government agencies reacted by prohibiting employees from installing DeepSeek on work devices, further escalating scrutiny.
President Choi Sang-mok described DeepSeek´s influence as a shock with potential consequences for South Korea´s industries beyond artificial intelligence. His remarks reflected growing unease over foreign AI technologies accessing vast user data.
Officials worry that DeepSeek´s data collection practices could threaten national security and personal privacy. Despite the ban, existing users can still access DeepSeek through its website or continue using the app if it has already been installed.
South Korea joins a list of countries that have imposed restrictions on DeepSeek over privacy concerns. Government officials stress that protecting user data remains a top priority, especially as AI-powered platforms gain widespread adoption. The DeepSeek ban in South Korea highlights the growing tension between technological innovation and privacy regulations in an increasingly AI-driven world.
