Islamabad, Feb 19: South Korea has raised serious concerns over the Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, alleging that it shared user data with ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. The country’s data protection authority, the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), confirmed communication between DeepSeek and ByteDance but has yet to determine the exact scope of data sharing.
Due to mounting privacy concerns, South Korean authorities took decisive action by removing DeepSeek from both Apple’s App Store and Google Play over the weekend. However, users who have already installed the app can still access it via a web browser. DeepSeek gained global attention earlier this year by claiming to have developed an advanced AI model at a fraction of the cost of competitors like ChatGPT.
This announcement triggered significant market fluctuations, wiping billions off the stock values of major AI firms. Despite its technological breakthroughs, concerns over data privacy and potential ties to ByteDance have led several countries, including Australia and Taiwan, to prohibit the use of DeepSeek on government-issued devices.
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A report by US cybersecurity firm Security Scorecard in February suggested that ByteDance had deeply integrated DeepSeek with its analytics and performance monitoring tools. The investigation indicated that DeepSeek collected user behavior data and device metadata, which was then reportedly transmitted to ByteDance’s servers. Some of this data may have even reached domains linked to Chinese state-owned entities, raising further security alarms.
Critics argue that China’s National Intelligence Law grants the government extensive access to data from Chinese-based companies, intensifying fears over potential misuse. On Monday, South Korea’s PIPC revealed that its investigation uncovered unauthorized third-party data transfers and a lack of transparency in DeepSeek’s privacy policies. DeepSeek has since acknowledged non-compliance with South Korean data protection regulations and is cooperating with authorities. The PIPC has urged users to be cautious and avoid sharing sensitive information with the chatbot until further clarifications are provided.
Data security concerns have been a persistent issue with Chinese tech firms, and similar worries influenced the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a ban on TikTok. However, the ban remains temporarily suspended until April 5, as negotiations continue to determine a long-term resolution. With increasing global scrutiny on AI-powered applications, DeepSeek’s future remains uncertain as regulators worldwide push for stricter data protection measures.
