South Korea Temporarily Bans DeepSeek Over Security Concerns

South Korea's industry ministry has taken a significant step by temporarily banning employee access to Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek due to security concerns. A ministry official disclosed this decision on Wednesday, highlighting the government's cautious approach towards generative AI services.

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The government's notice issued on Tuesday urged ministries and agencies to exercise vigilance when using AI services like DeepSeek and ChatGPT in the workplace. State-run Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power has already blocked the use of AI services, including DeepSeek, earlier this month. Additionally, the foreign ministry has restricted access to DeepSeek on computers connected to external networks, as reported by Yonhap News Agency. However, specific security measures have not been confirmed by the ministry.

In response to growing concerns, South Korea's information privacy watchdog is planning to engage with DeepSeek regarding the management of users' personal information. The launch of DeepSeek's latest AI models last month caused ripples in the tech industry, with the Chinese startup claiming that its models rival or surpass those developed in the United States, all at a significantly lower cost.

Major tech player Kakao Corp has instructed its employees to avoid using DeepSeek due to security apprehensions. This caution comes shortly after the company's partnership announcement with generative artificial intelligence heavyweight OpenAI. Other Korean tech firms are also treading carefully with generative AI. SK Hynix, a prominent AI chip manufacturer, has limited access to such services and permits usage only when necessary, according to a spokesperson.

Internet giant Naver has directed its employees to refrain from using generative AI services that store data externally, showcasing a trend of increased vigilance within Korean tech companies.

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• South Korea's industry ministry imposes temporary ban on DeepSeek due to security concerns

• Government urges caution on using generative AI services like DeepSeek and ChatGPT

• Korean tech companies, including Kakao Corp and SK Hynix, taking measures to limit access to generative AI

Source: REUTERS