In brief
South Korea has taken significant action against the rising artificial intelligence application DeepSeek after reports raised concerns about its data processing methods and security protocols, particularly regarding sensitive personal information.
The South Korean government announced on Monday that it had temporarily halted new downloads of DeepSeek, the Chinese artificial intelligence chatbot that has gained immense popularity since its launch last month. As of Monday evening, the app was no longer available in the Apple and Google app stores within South Korea. However, users can still access DeepSeek via its web browser. The suspension will remain in place until regulators can confirm the app's compliance with the country’s data protection regulations.DeepSeek’s rapid rise to prominence has surprised many in the tech community, dominating app store downloads globally. The company claims to have developed its AI technology at a fraction of the cost of its American counterparts, resulting in a significant impact on U.S. tech stocks. This situation has sparked discussions regarding the effectiveness of U.S. measures to restrict Chinese access to advanced semiconductor technology.Amid this backdrop, DeepSeek has garnered vast attention, positioning itself as a leader in China’s tech sector, with its founder, Liang Wenfeng, meeting with top Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping. Despite its successes, regulators in South Korea and other nations have expressed concerns about DeepSeek's adherence to security standards, leading South Korea to advise government employees against using the app on work devices.The Personal Information Protection Commission in South Korea reported that it had detected issues with DeepSeek's handling of personal data and predicted that rectifying these problems would take considerable time. In response, DeepSeek appointed an agent in South Korea to assist in addressing the regulatory concerns.Meanwhile, Chinese officials emphasize the need for local companies, such as DeepSeek, to operate in alignment with host country regulations and have criticized foreign nations for politicizing economic and technological matters surrounding the app.Li You contributed research to this report.
