Image credit: The Byteline

South Korea has blocked new downloads of China’s DeepSeek AI chatbot, citing concerns over compliance with the country’s personal data protection laws.

The government’s Personal Information Protection Commission confirmed the suspension, stating that the app will remain unavailable until “improvements and remedies” are made to address regulatory concerns.

DeepSeek, which made global headlines following its recent launch, quickly gained popularity in South Korea, topping app store charts and attracting over a million weekly users.

However, its meteoric rise also led to heightened scrutiny, with multiple countries imposing restrictions over privacy and national security risks.

The South Korean ban follows a broader crackdown on DeepSeek’s use in government offices.

READ MORE: The DeepSeek Ripple Effect: Impact on Tech Stocks and Global Markets

Several state agencies had already forbidden employees from installing the chatbot on work devices, and acting president Choi Sang-mok described the app as a “shock” that could have far-reaching effects on the country’s industries beyond AI.

Despite the ban on new downloads, existing users will still be able to access the chatbot on their devices or via DeepSeek’s official website.

Global Crackdown on DeepSeek AI

DeepSeek has shaken the global tech industry, challenging Silicon Valley’s dominance with an AI model that matches the reasoning capabilities of U.S. counterparts like OpenAI’s GPT, while reportedly requiring far less computing power to train and operate.

Its sudden rise has sparked regulatory action in multiple jurisdictions:

Taiwan and Australia have banned the app from government devices.

Italy’s data protection authority—which previously suspended ChatGPT in 2023—has blocked DeepSeek from app stores, pending a review of its privacy policies.

In the U.S., lawmakers have introduced a bill proposing a federal ban on DeepSeek for government use.

At the state level, Texas, Virginia, and New York have already imposed restrictions on the chatbot for public sector employees.

The restrictions have fueled broader discussions about the massive AI investments in the U.S. and other leading economies.

DeepSeek’s ability to rival top-tier AI models at a fraction of the cost has raised fundamental questions about the efficiency and spending priorities in AI infrastructure development worldwide.

As governments weigh privacy, security, and economic impact, the battle over AI regulation continues to escalate on the global stage.

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