South Korea Confirms DeepSeek’s Data Sharing with TikTok’s Parent ByteDance
Image Credit: Solen Feyissa | Splash
South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) has confirmed that DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot, has been communicating with ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. The revelation, announced by a PIPC official on February 17, 2025, has raised fresh questions about data privacy in AI technologies, though the specifics of what information was exchanged and the scale of the transfer remain under investigation.
[Read More: South Korea Bans DeepSeek AI Chatbot Over Privacy Concerns, Following Italy’s Lead]
South Korea Halts DeepSeek Downloads Amid Data Protection Violations
The disclosure comes on the heels of South Korea’s decision to suspend new downloads of DeepSeek, a move prompted by the chatbot’s apparent non-compliance with the nation’s stringent data protection laws. According to the PIPC, South Korean regulations mandate that organizations obtain explicit user consent before sharing data with third parties—a requirement DeepSeek has reportedly failed to meet. The company’s legal team in South Korea has conceded that it did not fully adhere to these obligations, intensifying scrutiny of its operations.
In response, the PIPC has urged DeepSeek to pause its services voluntarily while it addresses these shortcomings. “To prevent further concerns from spreading, the commission recommended that DeepSeek temporarily suspend its service while making the necessary improvements”, the commission stated in an official release. Once the AI platform aligns with South Korea’s legal framework, authorities have indicated that downloads could resume. However, the PIPC cautioned that the required adjustments are likely to be time-intensive, suggesting a prolonged resolution process.
South Korea has already taken proactive steps to limit DeepSeek’s reach within its borders. The government has prohibited its employees from using the chatbot on official devices, reflecting broader anxieties about the security risks posed by AI systems with unclear data-handling practices.
[Read More: DeepSeek AI Banned in Multiple Countries Over Data Privacy & Security Concerns]
A Global Ripple Effect: Italy and Australia Join the Ban
South Korea is not alone in its concerns. Italy, an early mover in this arena, previously banned DeepSeek, citing similar breaches of its national data protection regulations. The Italian decision set a precedent for other nations wary of the AI tool’s approach to user information.
Across the Pacific, Australia has followed suit with decisive action. The federal government, alongside state authorities, has barred DeepSeek from government devices, a policy echoed by federal corporations such as Australia Post, the National Broadband Network (NBN), and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), despite their exemptions from the national ban. Tony Burke, Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, emphasized the government’s resolve, stating,
“The Albanese government is taking swift and decisive action to protect Australia’s national security and national interest”.
He highlighted AI’s transformative potential but underscored that security risks identified by national agencies would not be tolerated.
Notably, Burke clarified that the ban was not explicitly tied to DeepSeek’s Chinese origins. Instead, the focus remains on the broader vulnerabilities the chatbot could introduce to government systems, a stance that seeks to frame the restriction as a pragmatic rather than geopolitical measure.
[Read More: AI Bias? DeepSeek’s Differing Responses in Different Languages]
The AI Privacy Dilemma: Innovation vs. Regulation
The unfolding situation with DeepSeek underscores a growing tension in the AI landscape: balancing technological innovation with robust data protection. As AI tools become increasingly integrated into daily life, their ability to process vast amounts of personal data has sparked alarm among regulators worldwide. South Korea’s requirement for explicit consent exemplifies a stringent approach, while Italy and Australia’s bans signal a willingness to prioritize security over unrestricted access.
For DeepSeek, the path forward involves not only technical adjustments but also rebuilding trust with users and governments alike. The PIPC’s acknowledgment that compliance will demand “a significant amount of time” suggests that the company faces a complex overhaul of its data practices—a challenge that could set a benchmark for other AI developers operating in regulated markets.
Source: BBC, Cyber Daily, Chosun
