South Korea has removed Chinese startup DeepSeek’s AI chatbot from app stores, prohibiting future downloads, which will continue until the app’s privacy policies are refined to fit the country’s data protection laws.
Concerns have grown over DeepSeek’s generative AI model collecting data like email addresses and dates of birth to expand its knowledge and improve its response results.
The app was removed from the Apple App Store and Google Play on Saturday and is being investigated by the South Korean Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC).
Many government agencies in South Korea have prevented the use of DeepSeek in workspaces amid concerns.
DeepSeek can still be used by those who have already downloaded it on their devices, or accessed the app on the internet, but the PIPC said it “strongly advises” users to be cautious if still using the app, and to avoid inputting any sensitive information.
Despite being questioned by data protection authorities, DeepSeek said user data is stored in secure servers in China.
The Chinese chatbot startup quickly topped the charts of app stores worldwide when it released its chatbot last month. In South Korea, the chatbot app accumulated over a million users each week.
DeepSeek’s latest release stirred US AI markets and shocked onlookers for its advanced capabilities and low cost, causing AI chip giant Nvidia’s market cap to plummet by $600 billion.
The Banning of Chinese Tech Apps
Chinese social media app TikTok is facing a potential ban in the US over similar national security concerns. The recent DeepSeek ban in South Korea could highlight the growing trend of countries banning Chinese tech apps on data security grounds.
James Kirkham, Co-Founder of agency ICONIC, says that although there is a link between TikTok and DeepSeek, AI presents a greater challenge than social media apps alone.
“The parallel with TikTok is obvious but perhaps a little misleading,” Kirkham says. “While TikTok faced concerns about data harvesting and content control, AI chatbots present a more complex challenge.
“They’re not just collecting data but shaping thought processes, influencing decision-making, and potentially accessing sensitive cultural and economic insights, too.”
“For Western markets, DeepSeek faces a steeper challenge than TikTok. While social media platforms could argue for content moderation and data localisation, AI models carry deeper implications about technological sovereignty and cultural influence.
“It is a bizarre thought that the future of AI might be negotiated in regulatory offices and diplomatic chambers. Clashing the old world with our near future.”
