SEOUL, Feb 17 (Reuters) – South Korea’s data protection authority announced on Monday that it had suspended new downloads of the Chinese AI app DeepSeek following the company’s acknowledgment that it had not fully complied with the country’s data protection regulations.
The suspension, which took effect on Saturday, will remain in place until DeepSeek makes necessary adjustments to align with South Korea’s privacy laws, according to a statement from the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC). While new downloads are prohibited, the app’s web service continues to be accessible in the country.
The PIPC noted that DeepSeek, a Chinese-based AI startup, had appointed legal representatives in South Korea last week and admitted to overlooking certain aspects of the country’s data protection framework.
Earlier, Italy’s data protection authority, the Garante, had also taken action against DeepSeek, ordering the company to block its chatbot after concerns were raised over its privacy practices.
DeepSeek has not yet responded to requests for comment on the situation.
In response to questions regarding the suspension of DeepSeek in South Korea, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry emphasized the country’s commitment to data privacy and security, stating that Beijing adheres to legal standards and does not encourage any company or individual to violate privacy laws.
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