SEOUL, Feb. 17 – South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) has temporarily suspended new downloads of the Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek, citing concerns over the company’s handling of personal data. The move, effective since Feb. 15, comes after DeepSeek acknowledged partial non-compliance with South Korea’s privacy laws.
The PIPC announced that DeepSeek must strengthen its privacy measures before resuming operations. While new downloads are blocked, existing users can still access the chatbot’s services. However, the agency has advised caution, urging users to stay alert until the investigation is concluded.
yeah so they are banning DeepSeek in South Korea, like for everyone not just the government pic.twitter.com/7VjHk8YUGo
— Fellow Human (@humanfellow0) February 17, 2025
DeepSeek, launched on Jan. 27, has drawn scrutiny from regulators due to potential risks related to national security and personal data protection. The PIPC initiated an inquiry into the company’s data collection and processing practices shortly after its release, highlighting shortcomings in communication functions and data-sharing policies with third-party service providers.
Global Regulatory Scrutiny
This is not the first regulatory hurdle for DeepSeek. Italy’s data protection authority, Garante, ordered a suspension of DeepSeek’s chatbot in January, citing similar privacy concerns. South Korea's decision aligns with a growing global trend of stricter AI regulation, as governments assess the implications of AI-driven data processing on user privacy and national security.
In response to South Korea’s measures, China’s Foreign Ministry stated on Feb. 6 that Beijing prioritizes data privacy and does not require companies to collect or store data unlawfully. DeepSeek has since appointed legal representatives in South Korea to address compliance concerns and work with the PIPC on corrective measures.
Inspection and Compliance Measures
The PIPC intends to conduct on-site inspections to evaluate DeepSeek’s compliance with South Korean data protection laws. These investigations aim to verify how the company stores and processes user data while ensuring adherence to local privacy regulations. The findings will also guide other AI firms to prevent similar regulatory challenges.
The commission emphasized that its past inspections of AI firms have typically taken months, but due to prior experience, the DeepSeek investigation is expected to proceed more efficiently. The PIPC has also hinted at broader regulatory efforts to monitor AI applications more closely, given the rising integration of AI-powered chatbots in various industries.
While DeepSeek remains operational for existing users, the platform’s future in South Korea will depend on its ability to meet regulatory requirements. Until then, the PIPC remains committed to safeguarding user data and ensuring compliance with national privacy laws.
HODL Team
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