South Korea has blocked new downloads of a Chinese AI app DeepSeek due to privacy concerns, the country’s data regulator announced on Monday. The suspension is due to DeepSeek’s failure to fully adhere to South Korean privacy laws.
Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) said the app’s service would be allowed to operate once any necessary enhancements meet South Korean privacy regulations. However, although the move, imposed on Saturday, blocks new downloads through local app stores, DeepSeek’s web service still enjoys access from within the country.
Chinese AI startup DeepSeek admitted last week via legal representatives in South Korea it partly breached South Korean data protection regulations, the Privacy International Child Protection Project reported. 
This move is beginning of mounting worldwide pressure on AI-powered platforms to focus on data security and censorship. Just last month, Italy’s data climate ended up being authority requested DeepSeek to freeze its chatbot inside the nation on the ground that it did lacking recommend concerns about its privacy plan.
Responding to South Korea’s regulatory move, China’s foreign ministry commented on Feb. 6 that Beijing was serious about data protection and security. The Chinese government does not require companies or individuals to obtain data without the law, the ministry said.
DeepSeek has not yet commentd on the suspension.
This move highlights South Korea’s strong stance on digital privacy as it maintains a tight grip on data protection laws given the growing use of AI technologies.
