Chinese AI company *DeepSeek* has temporarily *stopped downloads of its chatbot apps* in South Korea following an ongoing investigation into *data privacy concerns. The move, confirmed by officials on Monday, comes as DeepSeek cooperates with South Korea’s **Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC)* to address compliance issues.

Privacy Violations Prompt Suspension

DeepSeek *removed its apps* from the *South Korean versions of the Apple App Store and Google Play* late Saturday, ensuring that no new users can install them. While the suspension does *not affect existing mobile or desktop users, PIPC’s **investigation arm head, Nam Seok, has advised users **to delete the app* and avoid inputting *sensitive personal data* until security measures are strengthened.

The probe, launched last month, uncovered *significant gaps* in DeepSeek’s *data collection transparency* and *third-party information sharing practices. In response, **PIPC Vice Chair Choi Jang-hyuk* stated that regulators will closely *review the AI model’s data processing* to ensure it meets South Korean *privacy laws*.

Growing Bans and Global Scrutiny

South Korea isn’t alone in tightening restrictions on DeepSeek. The AI company is facing *global pushback, with **multiple governments banning* or restricting its services over *security concerns*:

– *Italy’s Data Protection Authority* was among the first to ban the platform, citing *opaque data storage policies*.
– *New York State* has prohibited DeepSeek on *government devices, while a bipartisan bill seeks to **extend the ban nationwide* in the U.S.
– *Australia’s government and major financial institutions* have also blocked DeepSeek’s access to *public and corporate networks*.
– *Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs* enacted similar restrictions, citing *national security threats*.

Despite these escalating restrictions, *DeepSeek remains the second most popular AI platform in South Korea, behind **ChatGPT, with **1.2 million smartphone users as of late January, according to **Wiseapp Retail*.

China Defends DeepSeek Amid Concerns

Earlier this month, *China’s Foreign Ministry* dismissed claims of *data privacy violations, stating that the government has **never required* any company to collect or store data illegally. A ministry spokesperson further *accused foreign governments* of using national security concerns to *politicize trade and technology issues, arguing that such actions **unfairly target Chinese companies*.

As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, DeepSeek’s future in South Korea—and its broader global expansion—remains uncertain.