South Korea has restricted the download of China’s DeepSeek AI chatbot, citing security risks, according to the country’s personal data protection authorities, Adyrna reports.
DeepSeek quickly gained popularity in South Korea within its first week of global recognition, ranking high in app stores and surpassing one million downloads. However, concerns over security and national safety led multiple countries to impose restrictions.
South Korea’s Personal Data Protection Commission announced on Saturday evening that DeepSeek is now unavailable on the App Store and Google Play. Earlier, several government agencies had already banned employees from installing the chatbot on work devices. Acting President Choi Sang Mok referred to DeepSeek as a “shock,” warning that its impact could extend beyond artificial intelligence to other sectors.
Although the app is no longer available for download, those who installed it earlier can still use it, and many continue to access it via its website.
Since its launch last month, DeepSeek has disrupted the global tech industry, challenging the U.S.’s leadership in AI. Despite its rapid rise, concerns about its data collection practices—such as storing user queries, email addresses, and birthdates for product improvement—have triggered restrictions in multiple countries.
Alongside South Korea, Taiwan and Australia have also banned DeepSeek from government devices, citing national security risks beyond its Chinese origin.
In Italy, regulators imposed a ban on DeepSeek, similar to their temporary restriction on ChatGPT in early 2023, demanding stronger data protection policies. France and Ireland have also raised concerns about DeepSeek’s handling of personal data, particularly its storage on Chinese servers.
Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers have proposed a federal ban on DeepSeek for government employees, with states like Texas, Virginia, and New York already enforcing restrictions.
