South Korea blocks use of Chinese AI tool DeepSeek on official PCs

By  News On Air   Feb 05, 2025

The South Korean foreign and trade ministries blocked access to the Chinese artificial intelligence tool DeepSeek on ministry computers connected to external networks. The move is viewed as part of the government’s efforts to proactively address concerns that important government data could be compromised while officials use generative AI services.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety also sent a letter to government agencies, urging caution when using AI services like DeepSeek and ChatGPT. The letter emphasized the importance of not sharing personal details and refraining from blindly trusting the outcomes provided by these services. Some tech companies in South Korea have also implemented similar policies, prohibiting the use of DeepSeek for business purposes.

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI app, has been facing increasing scrutiny worldwide. Dutch authorities recently launched an investigation into its privacy policies, questioning how the app handles users’ personal data. Similar restrictions have also been imposed in other countries.