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 other departments on the risks of using chatbots like ChatGPT on their machines that carry sensitive information.
State-backed Hydro & Nuclear Power had banned the use of DeepSeek earlier this month
A notice was issued by the South Korean government on Tuesday, with Reuters reporting that ministries and other agencies were asked to exercise caution regarding the use of the AI services from DeepSeek and ChatGPT at work. Prior to this announcement, the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power stated that it had blocked the use of these services earlier this month. The defense ministry has also followed suit by blocking DeepSeek on computers that are meant for military use to minimize any security breach.
The foreign ministry was next in line, restricting employees from accessing DeepSeek on computers that connect to external networks. While the relevant departments have mentioned the potential security concerns that ChatGPT brings, it is unconfirmed if the service has been banned in South Korea.
However, it should be mentioned that Australia and Taiwan have already banned DeepSeek from all government devices this week. Italy’s Apple and Google app stores no longer display the app as it was removed following a request sent to DeepSeek asking several questions about General Data Protection Regulation compliance and how the firm would handle privacy.
South Korea’s information privacy authority will reportedly ask DeepSeek about how users' personal information is managed. Based on the company's response, the AI chatbot’s ban in the country could be lifted or maintained indefinitely.
News Source: Reuters
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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