South Korea has blocked new downloads of the Chinese AI app DeepSeek after the company admitted to not fully complying with the country's data protection regulations. The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) announced the suspension, which took effect on Saturday, February 15, 2025. The app will be reinstated once it aligns with South Korea's privacy laws. Existing users can still access the app, and the web service remains accessible.

 

DeepSeek recently appointed legal representatives in South Korea and acknowledged overlooking some domestic privacy laws. The PIPC sent a formal inquiry to DeepSeek last month seeking clarification on data collection and management methods. An initial review by the PIPC confirmed some concerns, including insufficient disclosure of third-party data sharing and the excessive collection of personal information. The agency urged caution when using the application and is considering further measures to protect existing users.

 

This action follows similar regulatory scrutiny in Italy, where the data protection authority ordered DeepSeek to suspend its chatbot service last month after the company failed to address concerns regarding its privacy policy.

 

China's foreign ministry responded to earlier regulatory moves against DeepSeek, stating that the Chinese government places significant emphasis on data privacy and security and protects it in accordance with the law. A spokesperson asserted that Beijing does not instruct companies or individuals to collect or store data in violation of legal requirements.