What South Korea's Download Ban Means for DeepSeek

Amid concerns over data privacy, South Korea has recently put a temporary stop on all new downloads of DeepSeek’s AI chatbot 

This decision comes directly from the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), South Korea's watchdog for personal data protection. 

The commission indicated in a briefing to the media that DeepSeek did not fully comply with relevant national data protection regulations. Consequently, as of Saturday 15 February, the DeepSeek chatbot app has not been available for new users in South Korea on major platforms like Google Play and Apple’s App Store.

Existing DeepSeek users can still employ the chatbot on their mobile devices, and the Chinese firm’s web services remain accessible in the nation. 

The PIPC said it recognised “certain deficiencies “ in the way in which DeepSeek handles personal information policies and communicates with third-party operators. It has outlined specific “improvements and remedies” that DeepSeek needs to implement to resume its services fully. 

“We are determined it will take a significant amount of time to rectify the DeepSeek service,” the PIPC said. “To prevent further concerns from spreading, we recommended that DeepSeek temporarily halt its service in Korea while making necessary adjustments.”

Data protection measures ramp up

This is not the initial step by South Korea against DeepSeek. The nation has been cautious of the app since its launch, having previously banned it on devices used by employees in various government agencies. 

Moreover, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) of South Korea has warned about the app's vulnerability concerning security, pointing out the unrestricted collection of identifiable user data and inconsistent responses to sensitive queries.

It flagged potential indefinite storage and sharing of personal data with unknown third parties as areas of concern.

More recently, South Korea has accused DeepSeek of sharing user data with the owner of TikTok in China. According to the Yonhap News Agency, the country’s data protection agency says: “We confirmed DeepSeek communication with ByteDance.” The PIPC says that, despite finding the link between the two companies, it was “yet to confirm what data was transferred and to what extent.”

International repercussions for DeepSeek

The emergence of DeepSeek has caused a stir globally, not just in South Korea. Since its launch, the Chinese AI startup has topped global app charts and significantly impacted markets, including the US. 

Nonetheless, with this rise comes heightened scrutiny, especially about AI security and data safety which, after similar international events concerning apps like TikTok, has gained even more attention.

Moreover, ongoing investigations into exactly how user data is being handled, stored and used are only exacerbating these concerns. 

Researchers at Feroot Security have voiced significant concerns, locating direct connections to servers controlled by the Chinese government. 

"We see direct links to servers and to companies in China that are under control of the Chinese government. And this is something that we have never seen in the past,” remarked Feroot’s CEO, Ivan Tsarynny, highlighting potential risks of state surveillance and data misuse.

While South Korea has temporarily stopped fresh downloads, other nations are also acting against DeepSeek. 

Australia, Italy, and Taiwan have all enacted measures restricting the use of DeepSeek products, especially within government agencies and systems. 

The United States is also contemplating similar moves as global cybersecurity and data privacy concerns escalate.

Explore the latest edition of Cyber Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Tech & AI LIVE and Cyber LIVE.

Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.

Cyber Magazine is a BizClik brand