South Korea has joined a growing list of countries restricting access to the Chinese AI service DeepSeek, citing concerns over data security and potential national security risks. The move has significantly impacted DeepSeek's popularity in the country, with app usage plummeting by more than half in a week.
The South Korean finance ministry announced plans to block access to DeepSeek on PCs connected to external networks. The ministry, along with other government departments, including the foreign, trade, and defense ministries, restricted access to DeepSeek on their networks due to concerns about data collection practices and potential leaks to Beijing.
The Ministry of Environment also blocked access to DeepSeek from its internet-connected PCs, citing warnings from intelligence authorities about the service's data collection system. The unification ministry also plans to implement similar restrictions on AI services, including DeepSeek.
The ban has significantly impacted DeepSeek's popularity in South Korea. The number of daily users of the DeepSeek mobile app has dropped by more than half since the restrictions were implemented. App downloads have also decreased drastically.
DeepSeek's open-source nature and its data collection practices have raised privacy concerns worldwide. The service is known to host, collect, and secure data on servers located in China, fueling concerns about potential data leaks.
The South Korean government's decision to restrict access to DeepSeek highlights the growing global concerns about the security and privacy implications of AI services, particularly those developed in China.