DeepSeek, a Chinese AI app, is temporarily removed from South Korean app stores for a privacy review amid concerns over data security.
The Chinese AI app DeepSeek has been temporarily removed from South Korea’s app stores for a review of its user data privacy practices, Seoul authorities announced on Monday.
DeepSeek’s R1 chatbot, which impressed investors with its ability to rival Western competitors at a lower cost, has raised concerns in several countries due to its data storage practices. The company states that user data is stored in “secure servers located in the People’s Republic of China.”
Seoul’s Personal Information Protection Commission stated that DeepSeek would not be available for download until a thorough review of its data collection methods is completed. The company acknowledged that it had overlooked considerations for domestic privacy laws, and the commission noted that aligning the app with South Korean privacy regulations would take significant time.
To mitigate further concerns, the commission recommended that DeepSeek temporarily suspend its service while addressing the necessary improvements. The company has agreed to comply with this recommendation.
The app was removed from South Korean app stores on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. (0900 GMT) and remains unavailable for new downloads. However, those who had previously downloaded the app can still use it.
South Korea’s data protection agency urged caution, advising users to refrain from entering personal information into the DeepSeek app until the review process is complete.
Analyst Youm Heung-youl emphasized that DeepSeek had not yet released a privacy policy tailored to South Korea. While the company has disclosed privacy policies for the EU and other regions, it needs to develop one specific to South Korean regulations, said Youm, a professor of data security at Soonchunhyang University.
In response to the situation, Chinese officials urged their companies to comply with local laws in their overseas operations, while also calling on other nations to avoid politicizing technology and security concerns.
In addition to South Korea, Italy has launched an investigation into DeepSeek’s R1 model, blocking it from processing data of Italian users. Australia has also banned the app from government devices following security concerns, and U.S. lawmakers have proposed a bill to restrict DeepSeek from being used on government devices due to data security risks.
Despite these actions, the Chinese government maintains that it does not compel businesses or individuals to unlawfully collect or store data.
