South Korea has banned DeepSeek from app stores after discovering possible data transfers between the Chinese AI startup and ByteDance. The country’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) confirmed DeepSeek but has not determined what data was shared or to what extent.
DeepSeek ban over privacy concerns adds to growing global worries about privacy risks associated with Chinese AI applications. On Saturday, authorities removed DeepSeek from Apple and Google’s app stores due to insufficient transparency in its privacy policies.
Before the ban, South Koreans had downloaded the app over a million times, making it one of the country’s most popular AI tools. While new downloads are blocked, existing users can still access DeepSeek via web browsers.
Officials have urged users to exercise caution and avoid inputting personal data into the chatbot. DeepSeek gained global attention in January when claims emerged that the AI model was trained at a fraction of the cost of competitors like ChatGPT.
This revelation triggered market volatility, wiping billions from the stock value of major tech companies. However, concerns over DeepSeek’s data practices surfaced soon after. In February, a US cybersecurity firm found multiple links between DeepSeek and ByteDance’s analytics infrastructure.
The report suggested DeepSeek may send user data, behavior patterns, and device metadata to ByteDance servers. Cybersecurity experts warn that China’s National Intelligence Law could allow government agencies to access data from companies like ByteDance.
Critics argue this poses a risk to global privacy, though ByteDance insists the law also protects private businesses and personal data. Similar fear over Chinese data collection contributed to the US Supreme Court upholding a ban on TikTok.
That ban remains on hold till April 5 while negotiations continue. Following South Korea’s DeepSeek ban over privacy concerns, Australia and Taiwan have also prohibited the app on government devices.
As international scrutiny intensifies, regulators worldwide may take further steps to address privacy concerns tied to Chinese firms. The South Korea DeepSeek ban highlights growing tensions over data security in an era of expanding AI.
