South Korea Suspends DeepSeek App Amid Privacy Concerns

South Korea's data protection watchdog has stepped in to suspend the download of DeepSeek’s chatbot app following privacy concerns.

The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) announced on February 17 that the app, launched just weeks earlier, agreed to halt new downloads after a review of its data practices. Existing users can still access the service, but the PIPC has advised caution until the investigation concludes.

The suspension follows worries over how DeepSeek, developed by a Chinese company, manages personal data. The chatbot, which offers similar functionality to ChatGPT, was launched amid growing scrutiny from both local and international privacy advocates.

South Korea’s PIPC has already initiated an in-depth investigation, focusing on the app’s data processing policies and its partnerships with third-party services.

With heightened concerns over potential security risks, the commission will conduct on-site checks to ensure compliance with South Korea’s strict data protection laws.

Recommendations will be made to bring DeepSeek in line with local regulations, with the agency planning to share these insights to help other AI platforms avoid similar pitfalls.