News Desk
Seoul — South Korea’s data privacy watchdog has raised alarms over a Chinese AI startup, DeepSeek, claiming its chatbot may have funneled user information to ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, according to a Yonhap News report. The accusation marks the first time a government agency has pointed to possible data leaks from DeepSeek to another firm, spotlighting growing unease about Chinese tech companies and their handling of personal data.
this week South Korean authorities hit pause on new downloads of DeepSeek’s app, citing worries about its data practices. “We’ve seen evidence of DeepSeek interacting with ByteDance,” an official from South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) told Yonhap. The government is still digging to figure out just how much data might have crossed between the two Chinese outfits. The PIPC has already fired off a letter to DeepSeek, demanding answers about how it collects and manages user info.
DeepSeek, a rising star in China’s AI scene, has made waves with its chatbot, built on cutting-edge large language models. It’s the kind of tech that can hold a conversation so smooth it rivals the likes of ChatGPT, putting the startup on the global map. But this latest flap could dent its reputation as regulators zero in.
ByteDance, meanwhile, is no stranger to the hot seat. Its flagship app, TikTok, has been a lightning rod for criticism worldwide. Back in 2020, India slammed the door shut on TikTok and a slew of other Chinese apps, saying they posed risks to national security and data integrity—a ban that’s still in place. The U.S. has also wrestled with TikTok, with lawmakers warning that its user data, pulled from millions of Americans, could end up in Beijing’s hands. Efforts to curb the app Stateside have ranged from talk of outright bans to pushing ByteDance to sell it off, though no final hammer has dropped. Just this week, TikTok clawed its way back onto Google and Apple’s U.S. app stores after a brief removal last month, thanks to a letter from Attorney General Pam Bondi signaling a ban wasn’t imminent.
For South Korea, the DeepSeek case underscores a broader tension with Chinese tech giants. The country’s 51 million people generate a hefty digital footprint, making data protection a top priority. If the PIPC’s suspicions hold up, it could spark tougher rules—or even bans—on foreign apps that play fast and loose with user info. For now, all eyes are on DeepSeek’s next move as the probe unfolds.
