South Korea’s data protection authority has suspended new downloads of the Chinese AI app DeepSeek, citing non-compliance with the country’s personal data protection regulations.
The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) announced on Monday that the restriction took effect on Saturday after DeepSeek acknowledged it had failed to fully adhere to the agency’s rules on data privacy. While new downloads are blocked, the app’s web service remains accessible in the country.
DeepSeek recently appointed legal representatives in South Korea and admitted to partial lapses in complying with local privacy laws, the PIPC stated in a media briefing. The commission added that the suspension would be lifted once the necessary improvements are made in accordance with the country’s privacy regulations.
As part of its ongoing investigation, the South Korean government plans to guide DeepSeek in making the necessary changes to meet the country’s data protection requirements. Furthermore, when announcing the final results of the review, authorities intend to introduce a set of guidelines—such as a checklist—for foreign AI developers to follow before launching their services in South Korea.
