The AI era officially began with the launch of ChatGPT in 2022. Today, numerous AI tools are available, and new ones are constantly being introduced. The latest example is DeepSeek AI, which claims to deliver high performance at a very low cost. However, it seems that this new tool is not being welcomed worldwide.

DeepSeek AI Banned in South Korea: But Why?

DeepSeek AI has now been banned in South Korea, following similar actions in Italy and Australia. The Chinese AI tool will no longer be allowed in government institutions and systems, including the country’s foreign affairs, trade, and defense ministries.

The ban was reportedly imposed because DeepSeek failed to respond to an information request from South Korea’s data protection authority regarding its handling of user data.

South Korea’s decision aligns closely with those of Italy and Australia. In short, the AI tool was blocked due to concerns over privacy and security.

A few weeks ago, DeepSeek introduced its R1 chatbot, which reportedly offers performance comparable to major brands like OpenAI but at a significantly lower cost. This announcement caused waves in global markets, including the Australian stock exchange, leading to sharp declines in shares of companies like Nvidia.

Despite this, there are lingering concerns over how the company handles user data, and the increasing number of bans serves as strong evidence of this issue. Allegations suggest that DeepSeek has broad access to users’ IP addresses, chat histories, files, and even keyboard usage habits.