South Korea has banned new downloads of China’s DeepSeek AI chatbot due to privacy and national security concerns. The app enjoyed significant popularity, reaching over a million weekly users, before attracting scrutiny from various governments. Current users may continue to access DeepSeek, while other nations have also imposed similar restrictions on government devices.
The government of South Korea has recently prohibited new downloads of China’s DeepSeek artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot. This decision was made by the Personal Information Protection Commission, which stated that the app will be reinstated for South Korean users after necessary improvements are implemented to align with local personal data protection laws. DeepSeek had surged in popularity within a week, achieving top rankings in app stores with over a million weekly users.
Following its rise, DeepSeek attracted international scrutiny, prompting different countries to impose restrictions due to concerns over privacy and national security. The application was removed from Apple’s App Store and Google Play after South Korean government agencies instructed their employees to refrain from downloading the chatbot on work devices. Acting President Choi Sang-mok has characterized DeepSeek’s emergence as a significant disturbance that could influence various sectors beyond AI in South Korea.
Despite the ban on new downloads, individuals who had previously installed DeepSeek will retain access to the app on their devices and can also use it through its official website. The launch of DeepSeek has made waves in the technology sector, raising questions about the implications for the competitive landscape in AI, particularly concerning the United States’ dominance in this field.
Other nations, including Taiwan and Australia, have followed suit by prohibiting the application from government devices. In the United States, legislative proposals have emerged to ban DeepSeek on federal devices, with various states such as Texas, Virginia, and New York already adopting similar restrictions. Reports suggest that DeepSeek’s large language model (LLM) exhibits reasoning capabilities comparable to those of American models like OpenAI’s, yet it requires far fewer resources to develop and operate.
In summary, South Korea’s ban on the DeepSeek AI chatbot underscores significant privacy and national security concerns associated with its use. The app’s rapid rise to prominence has led to scrutiny from various governments, prompting several restrictions globally. Despite the suspension of new downloads, existing users can still access the app, highlighting the complexities surrounding the regulation of AI technologies.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
