South Korea Blocks New Downloads of DeepSeek AI Over Data Privacy Concerns
South Korea has taken action against DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot, suspending new downloads due to concerns raised by the country’s data protection authorities. The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) announced that the app will remain unavailable until it meets South Korea’s strict personal data regulations.
With over a million weekly users in South Korea, DeepSeek’s growing popularity has drawn scrutiny, not just domestically but worldwide. Authorities fear potential risks to privacy and national security, leading to restrictions in multiple countries. As a result, the app has been removed from Apple’s App Store and Google Play in South Korea.
The government had already taken precautions before this move, banning employees from downloading DeepSeek on official work devices. Acting President Choi Sang-mok acknowledged the AI tool’s rapid influence, calling it a “shock” with implications beyond just the tech industry.
Despite the halt on new downloads, users who previously installed DeepSeek can still access it on their devices or through the official website.
South Korea isn’t alone in this stance. Taiwan and Australia have banned DeepSeek from all government devices, while Italy—known for its temporary ban on ChatGPT in 2023—has demanded privacy policy revisions before allowing DeepSeek back in its app stores. In the U.S., lawmakers have raised surveillance concerns, pushing for restrictions on federal devices, with states like Texas, Virginia, and New York already enforcing similar bans for government employees.
DeepSeek’s advanced large language model (LLM) rivals U.S.-based AI models like OpenAI’s, offering strong reasoning capabilities at a fraction of the operational cost. This has sparked debates over AI development investments and infrastructure across the globe.
As AI continues to evolve, so do the discussions surrounding privacy, security, and international regulations. The question now is whether DeepSeek will make the necessary changes to regain access—or if more countries will follow South Korea’s lead.
