As concerns mount over China’s new AI platform, DeepSeek, collecting personal data, nations worldwide are tightening regulations. The South Korean government has confirmed issues such as user data being transferred from DeepSeek to ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, leading to voluntary restrictions by DeepSeek.
On Tuesday, the Personal Information Protection Commission reported that DeepSeek app downloads through domestic app stores have been halted since 6 PM on Saturday.
Last month, the commission sent an official inquiry to DeepSeek headquarters about its data collection and processing methods and began its service analysis. Based on its findings, the commission expects DeepSeek to take considerable time to comply with South Korea’s data protection laws. It recommended a temporary suspension followed by improvements, which DeepSeek accepted.
The commission’s analysis confirmed some deficiencies in DeepSeek’s policies regarding third-party access and communication functions, as reported by media outlets. Notably, it verified that user data had been transferred to ByteDance, but the specifics of the transferred information require further investigation.
On February 10, DeepSeek appointed a local representative in South Korea. On February 14, it acknowledged overlooking local legal considerations during its global rollout and pledged full cooperation with the commission.
Before these actions, DeepSeek faced regulatory measures worldwide. In South Korea, major companies, government agencies, and public institutions blocked access to the app. Japan, Australia, and Taiwan have restricted DeepSeek use on government devices, while Italy banned it entirely from app stores. Some U.S. federal agencies and local governments have also prohibited its use.
However, DeepSeek is taking action to address its concerns. On February 14, it removed users’ keyboard input patterns from its data collection policy. It added a clause stating that it will only use personal data where permitted by local laws in European Economic Area (EEA) countries, the UK, and Switzerland.
In response to South Korea’s actions, the Chinese government hopes that economic, trade, and scientific issues will not be politicized.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun emphasized that China requires its companies to comply strictly with local regulations when operating overseas.