Security concerns have prompted South Korea to take decisive action against DeepSeek, a fast-rising Chinese AI startup, by temporarily disabling its services. This isn’t an isolated case; other departments have been warned about the dangers of using AI chatbots like ChatGPT on devices containing sensitive data.
Earlier this month, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power proactively banned DeepSeek, and now the South Korean government has urged caution in using AI services from DeepSeek and ChatGPT in the workplace. The defense ministry is also taking steps to block DeepSeek on military-used computers to prevent potential security breaches.
Following the defense ministry’s lead, the foreign ministry has restricted employee access to DeepSeek on computers linked to external networks. While ChatGPT’s potential security issues have been acknowledged, it’s unclear if this service will face a similar ban in South Korea.
It’s worth noting that South Korea isn’t alone in its concerns. This week, Australia and Taiwan banned DeepSeek from all government devices. Additionally, the app has been removed from Italy’s Apple and Google app stores due to concerns over General Data Protection Regulation compliance and privacy management.
South Korea’s information privacy authority plans to reach out to DeepSeek for clarification on how user data is handled. The company’s response will likely determine whether the current ban in South Korea remains or is lifted.
