South Korea’s data protection commission has accused Chinese AI startup DeepSeek of transferring personal user information and content without consent, citing violations during the company’s January launch in the country.
South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) said on Thursday that DeepSeek, operated by Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Co. Ltd, failed to acquire proper user consent while transmitting data to multiple companies in China and the United States.
The commission said DeepSeek’s app, available for download in January, sent device, network, and app-related information, as well as AI prompts entered by users, to Beijing Volcano Engine Technology Co. Ltd.
South Korea’s data agency halted new downloads of the app in February after DeepSeek reportedly acknowledged that it had overlooked some local data protection requirements.
DeepSeek later told the agency that information was sent to Volcano Engine to improve user experience. However, it claimed to have blocked the transfer of AI prompt content as of April 10.
The PIPC has now issued a corrective recommendation directing DeepSeek to delete any previously transferred prompt content and to establish a legal basis for cross-border data transfers.
Responding to the news, China’s Foreign Ministry stated that the Chinese government does not and will not direct companies to collect or store data illegally.
The incident marks a significant development amid growing scrutiny of how international AI companies handle personal data, especially in jurisdictions with strict privacy standards.
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