South Korea Temporarily Blocks DeepSeek App Over Data Privacy Concerns

South Korea has temporarily blocked downloads of the DeepSeek app from local app stores due to concerns over data privacy, according to TechCrunch. The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) is assessing how the Chinese AI Lab handles user data, and the app will remain unavailable until it complies with Korean privacy laws.

The PIPC's investigation revealed that DeepSeek had transferred data of South Korean users to ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. Although the app's current users can still access it, the PIPC advises against entering personal information until a final decision is made.

DeepSeek, which launched its service in South Korea in late January, has appointed a local representative and expressed willingness to collaborate with Korean authorities. This move follows similar actions by other countries, including Australia and Italy, which have restricted DeepSeek due to security concerns.