South Korea has accused the China-based AI startup DeepSeek of sending its user data to ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, sparking a data privacy investigation amid growing concerns over the startup’s practices.
South Korea has accused DeepSeek, a China-based artificial intelligence startup, of transferring the country’s user data to a third party, according to local media reports.
The nation’s data protection regulator, the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), confirmed that DeepSeek sent user data to ByteDance, the parent company of the widely popular video-sharing app TikTok. The PIPC stated, "We confirmed DeepSeek communicated with ByteDance," as reported by Yonhap News Agency.
This accusation follows South Korea's recent suspension of new downloads of DeepSeek’s app, citing concerns over its data collection practices. The controversy has escalated, with several South Korean government ministries and agencies blocking internal access to the AI service due to fears over its data management protocols.
Just a month earlier, the PIPC formally requested clarification from DeepSeek regarding its data collection and handling methods. In response, the startup acknowledged gaps in its understanding of South Korean privacy laws and expressed its willingness to cooperate with authorities. To address concerns, DeepSeek also appointed a representative in South Korea.
DeepSeek, known for its innovative and cost-effective AI chatbot, has rapidly gained global attention. In fact, it has outpaced OpenAI’s ChatGPT in some regions, including the United States, despite having far fewer resources. Its sudden rise in popularity has shocked the AI industry, but the ongoing controversy over its data practices now casts a shadow over its future in South Korea and potentially other markets.
The death toll from a collapsed residential building in southern Pakistan has climbed to 21 as rescuers continue searching for survivors into the seco...
Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet broke the women’s 5000-metre world record on Saturday, becoming the first woman in history to run the distance in under 14...
Armenia’s Foreign Ministry has reaffirmed that the country’s territory cannot be used by any third party to carry out military operations against ...
Türkiye has extended condolences to the families of those killed in severe flooding in the U.S. state of Texas....
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that a negotiating team will travel to Qatar for talks on a Gaza ceasefire proposal, despite r...
An unidentified North Korean man crossed the heavily guarded land border into South Korea and is currently in custody, according to the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
South Korea’s top trade envoy Yeo Han-koo began a visit to Washington on Friday, aiming to secure a new trade framework with the United States before a 90-day pause on U.S. reciprocal tariffs expires.
South Korea and NATO have agreed to set up a new consultative body focused on defence industry cooperation, aiming to deepen collaboration through joint development and procurement initiatives.
The United States and South Korea have reaffirmed their commitment to reaching a tariff agreement as soon as possible, according to South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
The United States has rescinded licensing restrictions on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume after a temporary halt and signalling progress in efforts to ease recent trade tensions.
Italy plans to grant approximately 500,000 work visas to non-EU nationals between 2026 and 2028, as announced in a cabinet statement. The initiative aims to address labor shortages by expanding legal immigration pathways
Following a deadly glacier collapse in Blatten, near the Swiss Alpine village of Kandersteg, the town is on high alert as melting permafrost and shifting rock threaten another potential disaster after it was buried a month ago.
A malfunction in the radar transmission system at the Area Control Center in Milan suspended more than 300 flights at the weekend, across northwest Italy since Saturday evening according to Italy's air traffic controller Enav (National Agency for Flight Assistance).
Shanghai welcomed its first-ever Legoland resort, attracting visitors with a giant 26-meter Lego figure named Dada.
Northern Pakistan recorded some of its highest temperatures ever on Saturday, with Gilgit-Baltistan’s Chilas district reaching 48.5°C (119.3°F), breaking a 28-year-old record, according to the Meteorological Department.
Türkiye sent two firefighting aircraft to Syria on Saturday to help control wildfires as crews battled flames on both sides of the border.
A small propeller plane crashed in the Austrian Alps on Saturday, killing all four people on board, authorities said.
The death toll from a collapsed residential building in southern Pakistan has climbed to 21 as rescuers continue searching for survivors into the second day.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment