South Korea’s Spy Agency Raises Concerns Over Chinese AI App DeepSeek’s Data Privacy Practices

Seoul, February 10, 2025 – South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has raised alarms over the Chinese AI app, DeepSeek, accusing it of “excessively” collecting personal data and using all input data to train itself. The spy agency has also expressed concerns about the app’s responses to sensitive issues, particularly those related to national pride.

In an official notice sent to government agencies last week, the NIS urged the implementation of security measures to protect against potential risks posed by the app. The agency’s warning underscores growing concerns over data privacy and security, particularly in the context of foreign-developed applications operating in South Korea.

DeepSeek, an AI-powered tool, has been under scrutiny for its data collection practices, which could potentially compromise user privacy. The app’s use of all collected data for its training purposes has sparked a broader debate about the transparency and ethics of AI applications globally.

The NIS has advised government bodies to carefully monitor the app and take necessary precautions to safeguard sensitive information, particularly from foreign technology providers. This move highlights South Korea’s ongoing efforts to address the challenges posed by rapidly advancing technologies and protect its citizens from potential data misuse.