South Korea's personal data protection authority has imposed a ban on new downloads of China's DeepSeek artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, citing concerns over privacy compliance. The decision comes as the chatbot has swiftly gained popularity in the country, topping app store charts with over a million weekly users. Despite the halt on new downloads, existing users can still access DeepSeek on their devices or through the official website. The ban will remain in effect until the AI model aligns with South Korea's data protection laws through necessary improvements and remedies.
DeepSeek, known for its advanced large language model (LLM), offers reasoning capabilities on par with US models but at a significantly reduced operational cost. This competitive edge has contributed to its rapid adoption among South Korean users. However, the country's watchdog has insisted on revisiting its privacy policies to address lingering concerns before it can resume its presence in app stores.
The situation mirrors a similar instance in Italy, where the regulator temporarily banned ChatGPT in 2023 and has now extended the same scrutiny to DeepSeek. The global landscape of AI regulation is evolving, with countries like Taiwan and Australia banning DeepSeek from all government devices, while US states such as Texas, Virginia, and New York have established guidelines for AI usage among state employees. Additionally, US lawmakers are considering a bill to prohibit DeepSeek on federal devices due to surveillance apprehensions.
South Korea's acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has expressed apprehension regarding DeepSeek's impact on industries beyond AI. He described it as a "shock" that necessitates careful consideration and regulation to safeguard personal data and national security interests.