South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) has suspended new downloads of the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) app DeepSeek, citing concerns over non-compliance with the country’s stringent data protection regulations. The decision, announced on Monday, follows DeepSeek’s admission that it had not fully adhered to some of the commission’s privacy rules.
The suspension marks the latest move in South Korea’s broader efforts to regulate foreign digital services and ensure compliance with its privacy laws. PIPC stated that DeepSeek will be allowed to resume operations once it implements necessary improvements to align with the country’s Personal Information Protection Act.
According to PIPC, DeepSeek failed to meet specific privacy requirements, including safeguards for user data collection, storage, and processing. South Korea enforces strict data protection measures, similar to the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), to prevent unauthorized access and misuse of personal information.
The commission did not disclose specific violations but emphasized that AI-driven applications handling large volumes of user data must undergo rigorous scrutiny. “The protection of personal data is a top priority, and any digital service that fails to comply with our regulations will face consequences,” a PIPC spokesperson said during a media briefing.
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company known for its language model capabilities and chatbot services, acknowledged the concerns raised by South Korean authorities. In a statement, the company assured users and regulators that it is working on implementing the necessary changes to meet South Korea’s data protection standards.
“We respect the decision made by the PIPC and are fully committed to making the required improvements. Our priority is to resume service in South Korea while ensuring compliance with all local privacy regulations,” DeepSeek said in a statement.
Despite the suspension of new downloads, existing users of the DeepSeek app in South Korea will still have access to the service. However, the authorities have urged users to remain cautious about sharing sensitive personal data with AI-driven applications that have not yet received full regulatory approval.
The move against DeepSeek highlights the growing global scrutiny of AI applications, particularly those originating from China. Governments worldwide are increasingly concerned about how AI services collect and process user data, leading to tighter regulatory oversight.
For South Korea, this suspension underscores its commitment to ensuring that all digital services, regardless of their country of origin, adhere to its strict privacy laws. As AI continues to evolve, similar regulatory actions may become more frequent, shaping the future of data protection in the AI-driven world.
