South Korea Accuses DeepSeek of Transferring User Data Without Consent
- tech360.tv
- 6 hours ago
- 1 min read
South Korea’s data protection authority has accused Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek of transferring user data and AI prompts without consent during its launch in the country.
The Personal Information Protection Commission said on Thursday that Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Co. Ltd failed to obtain user permission before sending personal information to companies in China and the United States.
The unauthorised transfers occurred when the DeepSeek app was available for download in South Korea’s app market in January.
In February, South Korea’s data agency suspended new downloads of the app after DeepSeek acknowledged it had not fully complied with the agency’s personal data protection rules.
The commission said DeepSeek also sent AI prompt content entered by users, along with device, network and app information, to Beijing Volcano Engine Technology Co. Ltd.
DeepSeek later informed the agency that the data transfer to Volcano Engine was intended to improve user experience. The company said it stopped transferring AI prompt content on April 10.
The commission has issued a corrective recommendation for DeepSeek to immediately delete any AI prompt content sent to Volcano Engine and to establish a legal basis for transferring personal data abroad.
In response to the announcement, China’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that the Chinese government has not and will never instruct companies to collect or store data illegally.
South Korea says DeepSeek transferred user data and prompts without consent
Data was sent to firms in China and the United States
AI prompt content was shared with Beijing Volcano Engine Technology
Source: REUTERS
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