South Korea Warns Against Chinese AI App DeepSeek Over Data Privacy Concerns

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has raised concerns over the Chinese AI app DeepSeek, accusing it of excessively collecting user data and using all inputs for AI training. The NIS issued an official notice urging government agencies to take security precautions, citing potential risks.

Unlike other AI services, DeepSeek reportedly transfers chat records and collects keyboard input patterns that can identify users, communicating with Chinese servers such as volceapplog.com. Some South Korean government ministries have already blocked access to the app, joining Australia and Taiwan in taking similar measures.

The NIS warned that DeepSeek grants advertisers unlimited access to user data while storing South Korean users' information on Chinese servers. Under Chinese law, authorities could access this data upon request. The app has also been criticized for providing inconsistent responses on sensitive topics based on language. For instance, when asked about the origin of kimchi in Korean, DeepSeek recognized it as a Korean dish, but in Chinese, it claimed the dish originated from China.

The app has also been accused of censoring politically sensitive topics, such as the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, where it reportedly suggested users "talk about something else."

In response to South Korea’s actions, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson emphasized that China values data privacy and security, asserting that the government does not request companies to collect or store data unlawfully.

DeepSeek has not yet responded to requests for comment. As AI apps gain global traction, concerns over data security and political bias continue to grow, prompting governments to take protective measures.