South Korea Imposes Restrictions on DeepSeek Over Data Concerns

South Korea introduced new restrictions on the use of the Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek among government officials on Thursday, citing concerns over data collection practices. The country’s Environment Ministry blocked access to the service due to “multiple technical reasons,” with Yonhap News reporting that it was only DeepSeek that faced the ban, while other generative AIs, like OpenAI and ChatGPT, remained unaffected.

The Finance Ministry is also planning to implement similar measures. An official from the ministry mentioned that the decision was made in response to multiple technical concerns raised both domestically and internationally. The government’s move is part of a broader effort to restrict access to DeepSeek to prevent potential leaks of sensitive information through generative AI services.

This action follows a recent restriction of the AI chatbot’s access in several other government sectors, including foreign, trade, and defense ministries. Despite being praised for its performance at a relatively low cost, DeepSeek has raised concerns regarding its security and data management, prompting several countries to impose restrictions.