Introduction
South Korea has temporarily halted new downloads of the Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek due to concerns over its compliance with local data protection laws. This decision highlights the ongoing scrutiny of data privacy and security practices associated with international applications.
Description
South Korea has temporarily suspended new downloads of the Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek due to concerns regarding its compliance with local data protection laws under the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). The suspension [1] [2] [3] [4] [7] [8] [10], announced by the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) on February 15 [8], prohibits new downloads of the app [4], although existing users can still access the web version [7]. Users are advised to exercise caution and avoid entering personal information [9], as PIPC has warned against sharing sensitive data through the app until the issues are resolved. The suspension will remain in effect until DeepSeek implements necessary improvements to align with South Korea’s privacy regulations.
DeepSeek has faced scrutiny for its data handling practices [10], particularly regarding the extensive collection of user data and its storage on servers in China, which raises significant concerns about potential access by Chinese authorities and national security risks. PIPC’s findings indicate that the app’s launch did not adequately consider domestic privacy laws [8], as it reportedly collects data through unsecured channels and lacks transparency regarding third-party data transfers, including transferring data of Korean users to ByteDance [7], the parent company of TikTok [7]. In response to these concerns, DeepSeek appointed a representative in South Korea and acknowledged its shortcomings in adhering to the country’s data protection regulations [2], committing to cooperate with authorities throughout the process [2]. Despite these efforts, the app faces a prolonged suspension until it addresses these issues and complies with PIPA [8]. Key findings leading to the suspension include inadequate communication functions [8], personal information processing policies [9], and the detection of unencrypted data transmission in mobile apps [8].
In addition to the suspension by PIPC, South Korea’s Ministry of Trade [6], Industry and Energy has imposed a temporary ban on the use of DeepSeek on government and military devices due to security concerns. Multiple government ministries and agencies have previously blocked internal access to the app’s services [2]. Other countries [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10], including Italy [5] [6] [7], Australia [6] [7] [9], and Taiwan [6] [7], have also restricted the app on government devices due to similar security issues [7], with Italy blocking downloads entirely [9]. The suspension aims to prevent new downloads while ensuring that the app’s service can resume once compliance is achieved. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson has emphasized the government’s commitment to data privacy and security [10], asserting that Beijing would not compel companies to collect or store data illegally [10]. Additionally, the Italian Data Protection Authority has requested information from DeepSeek regarding the data used for training its models [7], highlighting the ongoing scrutiny the app faces internationally.
Conclusion
The suspension of DeepSeek in South Korea underscores the critical importance of adhering to local data protection laws and the potential consequences of non-compliance. As DeepSeek works to address these issues, the situation serves as a reminder for international companies to prioritize data privacy and security. The ongoing scrutiny from various countries indicates a growing global emphasis on safeguarding personal information, which may lead to stricter regulations and enforcement in the future.
References
[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/south-korea-suspends-new-downloads-deepseek-citing-privacy-concerns-rcna192432
[2] https://www.firstpost.com/tech/south-korea-suspends-local-services-of-deepseek-citing-data-privacy-concerns-13863909.html
[3] https://www.gadgets360.com/ai/news/new-deepseek-downloads-suspend-south-korea-pipc-data-protection-agency-says-7729079
[4] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/artificial-intelligence/south-koreas-data-protection-authority-suspends-local-service-of-deepseek/articleshow/118315883.cms
[5] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyzym0vn8go
[6] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/17/south-korea-removes-deepseek-from-app-stores-pending-privacy-review
[7] https://www.engadget.com/ai/south-korea-pauses-downloads-of-deepseek-ai-over-privacy-concerns-163302959.html
[8] https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/south-korea-suspends-deepseek/
[9] https://mashable.com/article/south-korea-blocks-deepseek
[10] https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/deepseek-downloads-suspended-in-south-korea-amid-data-protection-review-2681281-2025-02-17
