Seoul: South Korean ministries and police have taken action to block access to DeepSeek's services on government and military work computers. This follows the Chinese AI startup’s failure to respond to a data watchdog's inquiry regarding its handling of user data.
DeepSeek made headlines last month with the launch of its R1 chatbot, claiming to match the capabilities of leading artificial intelligence systems in the United States while requiring a fraction of the investment. This breakthrough has caused waves in the global AI industry, but it has also raised concerns over data security and privacy.
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South Korea, along with countries such as France and Italy, had previously asked DeepSeek for clarification on its data management practices. However, after DeepSeek did not respond to South Korea’s inquiry from its data protection commission, several ministries confirmed they were blocking the company's access to work-related computers.
A defence ministry official explained, "Blocking measures for DeepSeek have been implemented specifically for military work-related PCs with internet." The ministry also stressed the importance of security measures for soldiers, especially when using generative AI technologies.
South Korea’s police confirmed they had also blocked DeepSeek’s access, while the country’s trade ministry added that access had been restricted on all its PCs. The finance ministry stated that steps had been taken to prevent any potential leaks of personal or confidential information.
Global reactions to DeepSeek’s data practices
South Korea's actions align with similar measures taken in other countries. Last week, Italy launched an investigation into DeepSeek’s R1 model, halting its ability to process data from Italian users. Meanwhile, Australia banned the AI from government devices after advice from security agencies.
Kim Jong-hwa, a professor at Cheju Halla University's artificial intelligence department, suggested that political factors could be influencing the response to DeepSeek. He also noted that AI models like ChatGPT face numerous security risks that are yet to be fully addressed. "Given that China operates under a communist regime, I question whether they consider security issues as much as OpenAI does when developing innovative technologies," he said.
Despite these concerns, Kim believes that blocking DeepSeek’s services is a justified precaution. "We cannot currently assess how much attention has been paid to security concerns by DeepSeek when developing its chatbot. Therefore, I believe that taking proactive measures is not too excessive."
DeepSeek's use of US-restricted chips raises concerns
DeepSeek has clarified that it used H800 chips, which were allowed for sale to China until 2023 under US export controls, to power its AI model. This has raised concerns, especially given the involvement of South Korean chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix in supplying advanced chips for AI servers.
Amid growing competition in AI and semiconductors, South Korea announced a $23.5 billion investment in its high-tech industries, including semiconductors. Acting President Choi Sang-mok commented, “The global AI competition may evolve from a simple infrastructure scale-up rivalry to a more complex competition that includes software capabilities and other factors."
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Published: 06 Feb 2025, 09:27 am IST
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