RNS: South Korea has banned the downloading of DeepSeek’s AI-powered chatbot, R1, due to privacy concerns. The Personal Information Protection Commission announced that the app was removed from the South Korean versions of Apple’s App Store and Google Play after the Hangzhou-based company admitted to failing to meet local data protection standards.
DeepSeek agreed to suspend new downloads, though users who already have the app can continue using it. The commission urged the company to suspend the service temporarily while making necessary improvements, a process that could take significant time.
This follows a ban by South Korea’s Ministry of Trade on government employees using DeepSeek’s app, citing security concerns. South Korea joins Australia, Taiwan, and Italy, which have also restricted the app, while U.S. lawmakers have proposed a federal ban, and several states have implemented similar measures.
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company, gained attention with its chatbot, R1, which became one of the most downloaded free apps in the U.S. in January. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman praised DeepSeek’s chatbot as “impressive,” while expressing excitement about the competitive edge it brings to the AI industry.
