Daijiworld Media Network - Seoul

Seoul, Feb 1: South Korea's data protection authority, the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), is set to send an inquiry to DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, amid rising concerns about its data collection practices. The PIPC will seek detailed information from DeepSeek’s headquarters in China regarding its personal data collection policy and how the company uses this data for AI training.

The inquiry comes as the number of South Korean users of DeepSeek increases, raising concerns about privacy risks. If necessary, the PIPC may initiate a fact-finding review or investigation based on DeepSeek's response.

DeepSeek has faced global scrutiny, with reports indicating that governments and companies are restricting access to the company due to fears of data leaks and privacy violations. The company’s privacy policy reveals that it collects a wide range of personal information, including names, birthdates, contact details, and even keyboard patterns, audio data, uploaded files, and chat histories. The policy also states that DeepSeek may share this data with law enforcement or public agencies at its discretion.

The controversy surrounding DeepSeek has led to a decline in South Korean stock markets, with tech shares sharply falling after the holiday break. The Korean won also weakened significantly against the US dollar, as foreign investors sold off local shares.