South Korean regulators have temporarily suspended new downloads of DeepSeek’s popular AI chatbot due to concerns over security, censorship, and data management. The app has been a global hit since its release last month, with claims that it was built at a fraction of the cost of top American companies. However, officials in South Korea have expressed worries about the app’s handling of sensitive information.
The app had become one of South Korea’s most popular downloads in the artificial intelligence category before being suspended due to regulatory issues. Government agencies in Taiwan and Australia have also warned workers not to use DeepSeek’s products on official devices due to security concerns. A representative from the Personal Information Protection Commission said it would take considerable time to address the identified problems with how the app processes personal data.
DeepSeek, a Chinese company backed by a stock trading firm, has been hailed as a hero in China for its success. The company’s founder met China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, along with other tech executives on Monday. However, the app’s popularity outside of China has raised concerns about its security and compliance with local laws and regulations.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/17/business/south-korea-deepseek-china-ai.html