South Korea Suspends Chinese AI DeepSeek Over Data Privacy Concerns

The popular chatbot faces scrutiny for non-compliance with local laws and potential risks tied to data storage on Chinese servers.

South Korea's Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) has temporarily banned the Chinese chatbot DeepSeek due to violations of local data protection laws.
DeepSeek stores user data on servers in China, raising concerns about potential access by Chinese authorities under national security laws.
The suspension will remain until the app meets South Korea's legal requirements, with DeepSeek actively working with authorities to address the issues.
Several other countries, including Italy, Taiwan, and Australia, have restricted or investigated DeepSeek over similar privacy and security concerns.
DeepSeek's rapid rise in global popularity has been accompanied by criticism over data handling practices, security vulnerabilities, and potential misuse for harmful purposes.