South Korea Blocks Access to DeepSeek AI Amid Security Concerns
23 Sources
[1]
South Korea ministries, police block DeepSeek access
Seoul (AFP) - South Korean ministries and police said Thursday they were blocking DeepSeek's access to work computers, after the Chinese AI startup did not respond to a data watchdog request about how it manages user information. DeepSeek launched its R1 chatbot last month, claiming it matches the
[2]
South Korean ministries block DeepSeek on security concerns, officials say
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's industry ministry has temporarily blocked employee access to Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek due to security concerns, a ministry official said on Wednesday, as the government urges caution on generative AI services. The government issued a notice
[3]
South Korea ministries, police block DeepSeek access
South Korean ministries and police said Thursday they were blocking DeepSeek's access to work computers, after the Chinese AI startup did not respond to a data watchdog request about how it manages user information. DeepSeek launched its R1 chatbot last month, claiming it matches the capacity of
[4]
South Korea ministries, police block DeepSeek access
South Korean ministries and police said Thursday they were blocking DeepSeek's access to their computers, after the Chinese AI startup did not respond to a data watchdog request about how it manages user information. DeepSeek launched its R1 chatbot last month, claiming it matches the capacity of
[5]
South Korea ministries block DeepSeek's access
SEOUL (AFP) - South Korea's defence and trade ministries said Thursday they had blocked DeepSeek's access to work computers, following a request from the country's data watchdog for the Chinese AI startup to clarify how it manages user information. DeepSeek launched its R1 chatbot last month,
[6]
South Korea ministries, police block DeepSeek access
South Korea, along with countries such as France and Italy, have asked questions about DeepSeek's data practices, submitting a written request for information about how the company handles user information. South Korea's police told media they had also blocked access to DeepSeek, while the trade
[7]
South Korea ministries block DeepSeek's access
South Korea's defence and trade ministries have restricted access to DeepSeek's work computers after concerns about data management practices. Following an inquiry from the data watchdog, military and trade agencies temporarily blocked the AI startup. Italy and Australia have also imposed bans on
[8]
South Korea's industry ministry temporarily bans access to DeepSeek on security concerns, official says
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's industry ministry has temporarily banned employee access to Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek due to security concerns, a ministry official said on Wednesday, as the government urges caution on generative AI services. The government issued a notice on
[9]
South Korea's Industry Ministry Temporarily Bans Access to DeepSeek on Security Concerns, Official Says
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's industry ministry has temporarily banned employee access to Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek due to security concerns, a ministry official said on Wednesday, as the government urges caution on generative AI services. The government issued a notice on
[10]
South Korean government offices, firms block use of DeepSeek, citing security concerns
Lawmakers attend an urgent roundtable on Korea's response to the DeepSeek shock and strategies for developing AI held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on Feb. 4, 2025. (Yonhap) South Korean government agencies and private companies have begun restricting the use of the
[11]
South Korea's industry ministry temporarily bans DeepSeek on security concerns, official says
SEOUL, Feb 5 (Reuters) - South Korea's industry ministry has temporarily banned employee access to Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek due to security concerns, a ministry official said on Wednesday, as the government urges caution on generative AI services. The government issued a
[12]
South Korean ministries and police block access to DeepSeek
South Korean ministries and police said Thursday they were blocking access to DeepSeek on work computers after the Chinese artificial intelligence startup did not respond to a data watchdog request about how it manages user information. DeepSeek launched its R1 chatbot last month, claiming it
[13]
Gov't ministries block access to DeepSeek due to security concerns
The DeepSeek smartphone app page is displayed on a smartphone screen in Beijing, Jan. 28. AP-Yonhap Personal use still permittedBy Anna J. Park A growing number of Korean government ministries have begun blocking officials from accessing DeepSeek, a Chinese AI open-source language model that has
[14]
South Korea Blocks Access to DeepSeek From Government Devices
South Korea has blocked access to DeepSeek AI services from government devices, joining a list of companies and countries taking action to limit usage of the Chinese startup's artificial intelligence chatbot due to security concerns. South Korea's defense, foreign and trade ministries have
[15]
DeepSeek Gets A Temporary Ban Hammer In South Korea, But Authorities Have Also Voiced Caution Against Using ChatGPT, Particularly On Computers Made For Military Use
Security fears have once again forced a country, this time South Korea, to go ahead and ban DeepSeek, albeit its services will be temporarily disabled in the region. However, it is not like the rising Chinese AI startup is being singled out because government officials are also sending warnings to
[16]
South Korea watchdog to question DeepSeek over user data
Seoul (AFP) - South Korea will ask Chinese AI startup DeepSeek to clarify how it manages users' personal information, its data watchdog said Friday, joining a number of countries seeking answers. DeepSeek launched its R1 chatbot this month, claiming it matches the capacity of artificial
[17]
South Korea watchdog to question DeepSeek over user data
South Korea will ask Chinese startup DeepSeek how it manages users' personal information, Seoul's data watchdog said Friday, after the company launched its powerful new AI chatbot this week. DeepSeek claims its R1 chatbot matches the capacity of artificial intelligence pace-setters in the United
[18]
Finance ministry to block DeepSeek access citing technical concerns
Finance ministry to block DeepSeek access citing technical concerns The Deepseek logo is seen on a mobile screen, Jan. 29. Reuters-Yonhap The finance ministry plans to block access to the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) service DeepSeek, a ministry official said Thursday, in the latest of
[19]
Korean foreign, trade ministries block access to DeepSeek
Deepseek logo is seen in this illustration taken, Jan. 27. Reuters-Yonhap The foreign and trade ministries on Wednesday blocked access to the Chinese artificial intelligence service DeepSeek amid concerns about user data collection. According to multiple ministry sources, access to the service
[20]
Korea to look into China's DeepSeek AI service over data privacy concerns
gettyimagesbank By Kim Hyun-bin The Korean government plans to look into the data collection process of Chinese startup DeepSeek's artificial intelligence (AI) service amid concerns about its collection and handling of users' personal information. The Personal Information Protection Commission
[21]
Environment ministry joins in move to block access to DeepSeek
The Deepseek app icon on a mobile screen is seen, Jan. 27. Reuters-Yonhap The Ministry of Environment on Thursday joined many other government ministries in blocking access to the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) service DeepSeek amid concerns about user data collection. The ministry blocked
[22]
South Korea privacy watchdog to ask DeepSeek about personal information use
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's information privacy watchdog plans to ask DeepSeek about how the personal information of users is managed, an agency official said on Friday. The country's Personal Information Protection Commission will be sending a written request for information to the operators
[23]
Privacy watchdog to ask DeepSeek about personal information use
The Deepseek app is seen in this illustration, Jan. 29. Reuters-Yonhap Korea's information privacy watchdog plans to ask DeepSeek about how the personal information of users is managed, an agency official said on Friday. The country's Personal Information Protection Commission will be sending a
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South Korean government agencies and police have blocked access to DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, due to security concerns and the company's failure to respond to data management inquiries.
South Korean Government Blocks DeepSeek Access
In a significant move, South Korean ministries and police have implemented measures to block access to DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, on their work computers. This decision comes after DeepSeek failed to respond to inquiries from South Korea's data watchdog regarding its user information management practices
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.Security Concerns and Government Response
The South Korean government's action is primarily driven by security concerns. Multiple ministries, including the defense, trade, finance, unification, and foreign ministries, have confirmed taking steps to limit access to DeepSeek
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. The defense ministry, which oversees active-duty soldiers deployed against North Korea, has implemented blocking measures specifically for military work-related PCs with internet access3
.Global Context and Similar Actions
South Korea's move aligns with actions taken by other countries. Italy has launched an investigation into DeepSeek's R1 model and blocked it from processing Italian users' data. Australia has banned DeepSeek from all government devices on the advice of security agencies
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.DeepSeek's R1 Chatbot and Industry Impact
DeepSeek recently launched its R1 chatbot, claiming to match the capacity of US AI pacesetters at a fraction of the cost. This development has potentially disrupted the global AI industry, prompting increased scrutiny of Chinese AI companies
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.Expert Opinion and Justification for Bans
Professor Kim Jong-hwa from Cheju Halla University's artificial intelligence department suggests that while political factors may influence reactions to DeepSeek, the bans are justified. He points out that even established AI models like ChatGPT face unresolved security issues, and the lack of information about DeepSeek's security measures warrants precautionary actions
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.Related Stories
China's Response and Global AI Competition
Beijing has responded to the bans, stating that the Chinese government does not require illegal data collection or storage by enterprises or individuals. The situation highlights the evolving nature of global AI competition, which is shifting from infrastructure scale-up to a more complex landscape involving software capabilities and other factors
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.Impact on South Korean Tech Industry
The South Korean government has announced a substantial investment of 34 trillion won ($23.5 billion) in semiconductors and high-tech industries. This move comes as South Korean chip giants Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, key suppliers of advanced chips for AI servers, navigate the changing landscape of AI technology and international regulations
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