Privacy concerns: South Korea removes DeepSeek from app stores

South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission has banned new downloads of China’s DeepSeek artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot.

According to the government agency, the AI chatbot will be available again to users in the country once “improvements and remedies” are made to ensure compliance with the country’s personal data protection laws.

The Personal Information Protection Commission stated that the DeepSeek app became unavailable on Apple’s App Store and Google Play on Saturday evening. 

South Korean government agencies had earlier banned their employees from downloading the chatbot onto their work devices.

The country’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, described DeepSeek as a “shock” that could impact industries beyond AI.

Despite the suspension of new downloads, those who already have the app on their phones will still be able to use it or access it via DeepSeek’s website.

DeepSeek, which sent shockwaves through Wall Street following its launch a few weeks ago, quickly became hugely popular in South Korea, topping app store rankings with over a million weekly users.

However, its popularity also attracted scrutiny from governments worldwide, with some countries imposing restrictions on the app over privacy and national security concerns.

Tribune Online reports that a newly proposed law in the United States could see individuals facing hefty fines or even jail time for using the Chinese artificial intelligence app. 

The bill, introduced by Republican Senator Josh Hawley, seeks to “prohibit United States persons from advancing artificial intelligence capabilities within the People’s Republic of China and for other purposes.”