Government and Police Restrict Access Amid Security Fears
South Korea’s government and police have blocked access to DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup, due to concerns over data privacy and national security. The move follows the company’s failure to respond to inquiries from South Korea’s data watchdog regarding its user information management practices.
Why Was DeepSeek Blocked?
🚨 Key Reasons for the Ban:
• Failure to respond to South Korea’s data protection agency regarding data management practices.
• National security concerns related to potential leaks of sensitive information through AI-generated content.
• Growing international scrutiny, as Italy, France, and Australia have also imposed restrictions on DeepSeek.
📌 Government Actions:
• The South Korean Defense Ministry blocked DeepSeek on all military-related PCs with internet access.
• The National Police Agency and Trade Ministry implemented temporary access restrictions.
• Other ministries, including Finance, Unification, and Foreign Affairs, also blocked the app or took security measures.
DeepSeek’s AI and Global Concerns
DeepSeek launched its R1 chatbot in January 2025, claiming to rival major US AI models at a fraction of the investment. However, its data collection practices have drawn scrutiny worldwide.
🔎 Other countries taking action against DeepSeek:
• Italy launched an investigation and blocked DeepSeek from processing user data.
• Australia banned the app from all government devices over security concerns.
• US officials raised concerns about the surge in AI competition from China, warning of potential data misuse.
South Korean AI expert Kim Jong-hwa acknowledged the political tensions between the US and China, but said banning DeepSeek was still a reasonable precaution.
🎙️ Kim stated:
“Given that China operates under a communist regime, I question whether they consider security issues as much as OpenAI does when developing innovative technologies.”
China’s Response
Beijing strongly criticized the move, calling it “unreasonable suppression” and vowing to protect Chinese businesses from political interference.
💬 Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun:
“China has always opposed the generalization of national security and the politicization of economic, trade, and technological issues.”
Impact on AI Competition and the Global Tech Industry
DeepSeek’s rapid rise is reshaping the AI industry, challenging US-based OpenAI and Google’s Gemini AI. The company reportedly uses H800 chips—allowed under past US trade rules but now restricted under export controls.
Meanwhile, South Korea is increasing investments in semiconductors and AI, with a new $23.5 billion funding package aimed at keeping the country at the forefront of AI technology.
⚡ Acting South Korean President Choi Sang-mok warned:
“The global AI competition is evolving from a simple infrastructure race to a more complex battle of software capabilities.”
As AI development intensifies, privacy concerns, geopolitical tensions, and tech rivalry will continue shaping the future of global AI regulation.
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