South Korea has accused Chinese AI startup DeepSeek of sharing user data with ByteDance, the parent company behind TikTok.
The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), South Korea’s data protection regulator, told Yonhap News Agency that it had confirmed communication between DeepSeek and ByteDance but had not yet determined the extent or nature of the data transferred.
According to BBC News, due to concerns over data privacy, South Korea removed DeepSeek from Apple and Google’s App Stores over the weekend. Despite the removal, existing users can still access the app through a web browser.
DeepSeek made headlines in January after claiming it had developed an AI model at a significantly lower cost than US competitors like ChatGPT. This announcement wiped billions off global stock markets. However, concerns about data privacy and potential links to ByteDance have since led multiple countries, including Australia and Taiwan, to ban DeepSeek from government devices.
In February, US cybersecurity firm Security Scorecard alleged that ByteDance had deeply integrated DeepSeek with its analytics and performance monitoring infrastructure. The firm’s report suggested that DeepSeek collected user behavior and device metadata and likely sent the data to ByteDance servers, with some information allegedly reaching domains linked to Chinese state-owned entities.
Critics argue that China’s National Intelligence Law allows the government unrestricted access to data from Chinese companies.
On Monday, South Korea’s PIPC stated that its investigation found third-party data transfers and a lack of transparency in DeepSeek’s privacy policy. The regulator confirmed that DeepSeek is cooperating with authorities and has acknowledged that it failed to comply with South Korean privacy laws. The PIPC has advised users to exercise caution and avoid entering personal information into the chatbot until further clarity is provided.
Similar concerns over data security played a role in the US Supreme Court upholding a ban on TikTok. The ban is currently on hold until April 5, as President Donald Trump attempts to negotiate a resolution.