South Korea Bans DeepSeek AI Chatbot Over Privacy Issues

South Korea has halted new downloads of the Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek, following concerns from the Personal Information Protection Commission regarding compliance with local data protection laws, BBC News reported. The app, which surged in popularity with over a million weekly users, became unavailable on major platforms like Apple’s App Store and Google Play after government agencies prohibited employees from using it on work devices.

Acting President Choi Sang-mok labeled DeepSeek a “shock” that could impact various industries. While new users cannot download the app, those who already have it can continue using it or access it via its website.

This ban follows similar actions in Taiwan, Australia, and Italy, where authorities raised national security concerns. Lawmakers in the U.S. have also proposed banning DeepSeek from federal devices. The app’s privacy policy, which suggests data may be stored on servers in China, has drawn scrutiny from data protection authorities in France and Ireland.