South Korea blocks access to DeepSeek from government devices

South Korea has moved to block access to the Chinese startup DeepSeek’s artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot on government devices due to concerns about security and potential data misuse. The Asian country joins France and Italy in restricting access to DeepSeek’s services, while also scrutinizing the chatbot over its handling of sensitive information.

South Korean ministries, including those overseeing defense, foreign affairs, and trade, have imposed restrictions on DeepSeek usage on government computers. Yonhap News, citing unnamed sources, reported that these ministries greenlighted the move to safeguard sensitive government data.

DeepSeek, which launched its R1 chatbot just last month, is facing a mountain of queries from various countries, all of which have raised questions about the company’s data handling practices. Most of these nations have submitted formal requests for detailed information on how DeepSeek manages user data.

DeepSeek’s silence to data practices queries causes restrictions 

The Chinese AI company reportedly failed to respond to inquiries from South Korea’s data watchdog. Now, the country’s government agencies have decided to take preemptive measures to mitigate any potential security risks. 

On Thursday, a South Korean defense ministry official told AFP that the restriction applies specifically to work-related devices used by military personnel, reinforcing that these measures were implemented to safeguard sensitive military information.

“The ministry has reinforced security precautions regarding the use of generative AI and implemented necessary pre-emptive measures for military personnel’s work devices,” the spokesperson added.

The security ministry also spoke to its departments about possible technical vulnerabilities and leaks of classified information through AI services like DeepSeek.

South Korea joins governments and corporations worldwide in tightening access for DeepSeek AI, citing concerns over potential data leaks to the Chinese government and weak privacy protections. 

Last Tuesday, Australia issued a ban notice on all DeepSeek products across all government systems and devices. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told Bloomberg that authorities fear government private information processed through the AI model could be accessed or misused. He went on to refute claims that the AI was being shipped out because it “came from China.”

Japan, while not issuing an outright ban, has already imposed strict limitations on generative AI usage within its government. Digital Transformation Minister Masaaki Taira confirmed that AI services, including DeepSeek, are effectively prohibited on any government devices handling highly sensitive information. 

However, individual ministries in the East Asian jurisdiction retain discretion over whether such services can be accessed on other government systems.

Corporate sectors also take cautious steps

South Korea’s concerns regarding DeepSeek are not limited to government agencies. Prominent South Korean tech companies have also started to tighten their policies around the use of generative AI. 

Kakao Corp, one of the country’s largest tech giants, instructed its employees today to avoid using DeepSeek due to security concerns. This decision came just one day after Kakao announced its new partnership with OpenAI, the company behind the popular AI model ChatGPT.

Other South Korean companies like SK Hynix, a major producer of AI chips, has restricted its employees’ access to generative AI services, allowing its use only when absolutely necessary. Internet giant Naver has also taken similar precautions, advising its employees to refrain from using generative AI platforms that store data outside the company’s secure environment.

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