DeepSeek AI Faces Global Scrutiny Over Data Privacy Concerns

The Chinese AI startup's app has been suspended in South Korea and other nations due to allegations of data mishandling and ties to ByteDance.

South Korea has temporarily halted new downloads of DeepSeek's AI app, citing non-compliance with local data protection laws and concerns about user data being transferred to ByteDance.
DeepSeek has acknowledged shortcomings in its privacy practices and is cooperating with South Korean regulators to address the issues and resume app availability.
Several countries, including Italy, Australia, and Taiwan, have restricted or banned DeepSeek on government devices due to national security and data privacy fears.
The Chinese government denies allegations of improper data collection, emphasizing compliance with local laws, though critics highlight China's legal requirement for companies to share data with authorities upon request.
DeepSeek's rapid rise, fueled by its low-cost AI model, has disrupted the global AI market but has also raised concerns about privacy, security, and potential misuse of its open-source technology.