South Korea has halted new downloads of China’s DeepSeek AI chatbot, citing concerns over compliance with the country’s personal data protection laws, according to its data protection watchdog.
The Personal Information Protection Commission announced that the app would remain unavailable to South Korean users until “improvements and remedies” are implemented to align with local regulations.
DeepSeek gained immense popularity in South Korea shortly after its global debut, topping app store charts with over a million weekly users.
However, its rapid rise also triggered scrutiny and restrictions from various countries due to privacy and national security concerns.
The commission confirmed that the app was removed from Apple’s App Store and Google Play in South Korea on Saturday evening.
This followed bans by several government agencies, preventing employees from downloading the chatbot on work devices.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok referred to DeepSeek as a “shock” with potential implications beyond the AI sector, potentially impacting South Korea’s broader industries.
Despite the suspension, existing users can continue accessing the app on their devices or through DeepSeek’s website.
DeepSeek has disrupted the tech industry, markets, and global confidence in AI leadership since the release of its latest app last month. Its advanced capabilities and cost efficiency, comparable to US models like OpenAI’s GPT-4, have raised questions about the significant investments in AI infrastructure in the US and elsewhere.
Concerns over privacy have led to bans in other regions, including Taiwan and Australia, where government employees are prohibited from using the app. Italy’s regulator, which briefly banned ChatGPT in 2023, has also blocked DeepSeek until its privacy policies are addressed.
In the US, lawmakers have proposed a federal ban on DeepSeek for government devices over surveillance risks. Several states, including Texas, Virginia, and New York, have already introduced such measures for their employees.