South Korea has prohibited new downloads of DeepSeek, a popular Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, according to the country’s Personal Information Protection Commission.
The ban, which took effect on Saturday evening, removes the app from Apple’s App Store and Google Play. However, users who have already downloaded the app will still be able to use it, and access will remain available through DeepSeek’s website.
The decision follows a rapid rise in popularity for DeepSeek in South Korea, where it topped app store charts with over a million weekly users within a week of gaining global attention.
Despite its success, the app has faced increasing scrutiny worldwide over privacy and national security issues, prompting similar restrictions in other countries.
South Korea’s government has also taken internal measures, with several agencies banning their employees from installing the chatbot on work devices.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok has warned that DeepSeek could have far-reaching implications for the country’s industries, extending beyond the AI sector.
The Personal Information Protection Commission stated that the ban will remain in place until DeepSeek implements “improvements and remedies” to comply with South Korea’s strict personal data protection laws.
