Data Transfer Concerns
South Korea's Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) discovered DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, transferred personal data from South Korean users to companies in China and the U.S. without consent.
The transferred data included user prompts, device, network, and application information, with significant amounts sent to Beijing Volcano Engine Technology Co., linked to ByteDance.
Regulatory Responses and International Reactions
Following the discovery, South Korea suspended DeepSeek downloads, prompting China to accuse Seoul of politicizing AI and insinuating U.S. influence, despite DeepSeek's admission of privacy violations.
DeepSeek acknowledged insufficient consideration of Korea's data protection laws and expressed willingness to cooperate, while China emphasized its commitment to data privacy and security.