South Korea has banned new downloads of China’s DeepSeek AI chatbot due to compliance issues with local data protection laws. The app gained immense popularity shortly after release but faced scrutiny over privacy concerns. Several government agencies also restricted its use, prompting potential ramifications in various sectors.
South Korea’s government has issued a ban on new downloads of the Chinese AI chatbot, DeepSeek, as announced by the nation’s personal data protection authority. This decision followed concerns about compliance with South Korea’s data protection laws. The app will be accessible again only after necessary improvements are made to meet these regulations.
DeepSeek gained substantial popularity in South Korea shortly after its release, soaring to the top of app stores with over a million weekly users. However, this rapid success raised numerous privacy and national security concerns, prompting examination by various countries.
Following the emergence of these issues, DeepSeek was made unavailable on both Apple’s App Store and Google Play. This ban was reinforced after several South Korean government agencies prohibited employees from downloading the app onto their work devices.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok characterized the situation as a “shock” with potential ramifications for various industries across the nation, surpassing the scope of artificial intelligence. Despite the download suspension, existing users may continue using the app or access it via its website.
DeepSeek’s introduction has caused significant disruptions in the technology realm and has incited challenges to the United States’ AI leadership. Alarmed by the swift rise of the app, regions such as Taiwan and Australia have also barred it from government devices, while U.S. lawmakers have proposed bills to prohibit DeepSeek usage on federal devices, citing surveillance risks.
With DeepSeek’s large language model demonstrating capabilities akin to those of American counterparts like OpenAI’s, questions have emerged regarding the significant financial investments into AI infrastructure occurring in the U.S. and other countries. Significant reporting contributions were made by Jean Mackenzie in Seoul.
In summary, South Korea has introduced a ban on new downloads of the DeepSeek AI chatbot due to compliance issues with personal data protection laws. This prohibition reflects growing concerns over privacy and security, echoed by similar actions taken in other countries. The situation highlights the increasing scrutiny of AI technologies and their implications on national security. It remains pivotal for DeepSeek to address the concerns raised to resume its availability in South Korea.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
