Chinese artificial intelligence service DeepSeek became available again on South Korean app markets on Monday for the first time in about two months, following a suspension after authorities cited breaches of data protection rules.
South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission stated on Thursday that DeepSeek had transferred user data and prompts without permission when the service first launched in South Korea in January.
Downloading the app was suspended in February after concerns regarding personal data protection emerged, but the service has now returned to South Korean app markets, including Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store.
“We process your personal information in compliance with the Personal Information Protection Act of Korea,” DeepSeek stated in a revised privacy policy note applied to the app.
DeepSeek also said users could refuse permission for their personal information to be transferred to several companies based in China and the United States.
DeepSeek did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
South Korea’s data protection agency said that DeepSeek had voluntarily decided to make the app available for download again, which it is free to do after at least partially implementing the agency’s recommendations.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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