S Korea removes Deepseek from app stores over privacy concerns

In a significant move, South Korea has halted new downloads of the DeepSeek app, a Chinese artificial intelligence chatbot, due to concerns regarding personal data privacy. The decision was made by the Personal Information Protection Commission, which oversees data protection laws in the country. They stated that DeepSeek could return to app stores once it makes necessary improvements to comply with South Korea's strict personal data regulations. The app had gained immense popularity in South Korea, quickly climbing to the top of app store rankings with over a million users each week. However, this rapid rise also drew attention from various countries that have raised alarms over privacy and national security issues related to the app. The South Korean commission announced that DeepSeek would no longer be available on platforms like Apple’s App Store and Google Play starting Saturday evening. This decision followed directives from several South Korean government agencies that prohibited their employees from downloading the chatbot on work devices. Choi Sang-mok, the acting president of South Korea, described DeepSeek as a 'shock' that could have far-reaching effects on various industries beyond just artificial intelligence. Despite the ban on new downloads, users who already have the app installed on their devices can continue to use it or access it through the DeepSeek website. The DeepSeek app, which originated in China, has made waves in the technology sector since its launch at the end of last month. Its swift ascent as one of the most favored AI chatbots globally has raised concerns in multiple jurisdictions. In addition to South Korea, countries like Taiwan and Australia have also taken steps to restrict the app. The Australian government clarified that its ban is not solely due to the app's Chinese origins but rather because of the 'unacceptable risk' it poses to national security. Italy's regulatory body, which had previously banned ChatGPT in 2023, has also taken similar action against DeepSeek. The company has been instructed to address concerns regarding its privacy policy before it can be reinstated in app stores. Data protection authorities in France and Ireland have also inquired about how DeepSeek manages personal information, particularly whether it is stored on servers located in China. The app reportedly collects various types of information, including email addresses and birth dates, and uses user input to enhance its services. Meanwhile, in the United States, lawmakers have proposed legislation to ban DeepSeek from federal devices, citing concerns over surveillance. At the state level, Texas, Virginia, and New York have already implemented similar restrictions for their employees. DeepSeek's 'large language model' is said to have reasoning capabilities comparable to those of US models like OpenAI's, but it is reportedly much cheaper to train and operate. This has raised questions about the substantial investments being made in AI infrastructure in the US and other regions.