Seoul authorities have ordered the temporary suspension of downloads for the Chinese AI app DeepSeek, pending a review of its handling of user data. The move comes amid growing concerns over the app’s storage of user information, which is reportedly collected in servers located in China.
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DeepSeek’s R1 chatbot has gained significant attention for its ability to match the functions of its Western competitors at a lower cost. However, several countries have raised questions about the app’s data collection practices.
On Monday, Seoul’s Personal Information Protection Commission announced that DeepSeek would no longer be available for download until a review of its personal data collection practices is completed. The commission stated that DeepSeek has acknowledged its lack of consideration for domestic privacy laws and has accepted the proposal to temporarily suspend its service.
The app was removed from local app stores on Saturday, and while existing users can still access the AI chatbot, the commission has strongly advised users to exercise caution and refrain from entering personal information into the app.
Analysts have pointed out that DeepSeek lacks a privacy policy specifically tailored for users in South Korea. “DeepSeek needs to establish a privacy policy specific to Korea,” said Youm Heung-youl, a data security professor at Soonchunhyang University.
The suspension of DeepSeek’s download in South Korea is the latest in a series of actions taken by countries around the world. Italy has launched an investigation into DeepSeek’s R1 model, while Australia has banned the app from all government devices. US lawmakers have also proposed a bill to ban DeepSeek from being used on government devices over concerns about user data security.
In response to the bans, the Chinese government has stated its opposition to the “politicisation of economic, trade and technological issues” and insists that it “has never and will never require enterprises or individuals to illegally collect or store data”.
