South Korea’s privacy watchdog has blocked new downloads of Chinese artificial intelligence app DeepSeek, citing data protection concerns.
The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) imposed the restriction after discovering the app was transferring South Korean user data to ByteDance, the Chinese company behind TikTok, the regulator said on Saturday.
Related: ByteDance Components Found in DeepSeek App —Privacy Report
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Existing users can continue using the app and web service, though the PIPC advised against entering personal information until its investigation concludes.
DeepSeek, which launched in South Korea in January, has acknowledged unfamiliarity with local privacy laws and appointed legal representatives in the country. The Hangzhou-based startup said it would work with Korean authorities to address the concerns.
The move follows similar restrictions by other nations. Italy’s privacy regulator ordered DeepSeek to block its chatbot last month, while Australia and Taiwan have banned the app on government devices.
South Korean government agencies, including the Ministry of Trade and state-run Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, had already restricted DeepSeek on official devices citing security risks.
The Chinese foreign ministry has previously said that Beijing does not require companies to collect data in violation of local laws.
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