South Korea has removed the China-based AI application DeepSeek from app stores and launched an investigation into allegations of data sharing. But is DeepSeek really transferring user data to China?
South Korea Accuses DeepSeek of Data Sharing
South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) has announced that it found evidence suggesting DeepSeek has shared data with Chinese tech giant ByteDance. Reports confirm that the company has been in direct communication with TikTok’s parent company, but the exact nature and extent of the data sharing remain unclear.
DeepSeek made a big impact in the AI industry in January, offering a low-cost model that put pressure on competitors. However, within weeks, concerns over data security led to scrutiny in multiple countries.
In February, U.S. cybersecurity firm Security Scorecard released a report claiming that DeepSeek is linked to ByteDance. According to the report, the app is deeply integrated with ByteDance’s infrastructure, and user behavior and device data may be transmitted to China.
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Following these developments, South Korea removed DeepSeek from Apple and Google app stores over the weekend. The app had been downloaded over a million times in the country. However, users who had already installed the app can still access the service via a web browser.
PIPC stated that DeepSeek has not been transparent enough regarding data transfers and has not fully complied with South Korea’s privacy laws. However, the company is reportedly cooperating with the investigation. Meanwhile, users have been advised not to enter personal information into the chatbot.
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