• South Korea temporarily bans DeepSeek and ChatGPT for government employees.
• The ban is a response to security risks associated with the use of the Chinese AI.
• SSK Hynix and Kakao Corp have also restricted access to generative AI tools.
• International scrutiny increases as countries like Australia and Italy impose similar bans.

In a significant move reflecting growing global concerns about data privacy and security, South Korea has temporarily banned its government employees from accessing DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup, as well as ChatGPT. According to reports, the South Korean government's South China Morning Post and Reuters, this precautionary measure aims to promote caution surrounding the utilization of generative AI technologies in public offices.

The ban comes in light of a notice from the South Korean Ministry of Industry, urging ministries and respective agencies to evaluate the potential implications of using AI services like DeepSeek and ChatGPT at the workplace. Earlier this month, entities such as Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power had already limited access to these AI tools, echoed by the military's prohibition of DeepSeek on connected work computers Times of India.

Security concerns resonated within the government ranks as South Korea’s information privacy watchdog prepares to investigate DeepSeek’s data handling practices, particularly related to user privacy, leading to its decision to restrict access Reuters. Ministerial officials stressed the importance of adhering to enhanced security measures, especially within military and defense sectors. Kim Jang-hyun, an AI expert from Sungkyunkwan University, stated, "Whenever government employees use DeepSeek for information, its operators could potentially gather data that hints at South Korea’s policy directions."

South Korea joins a growing list of nations, including Italy, Australia, and Taiwan, who have expressed similar concerns and are scrutinizing DeepSeek's operations. As the company launches key AI models and promotes their capabilities, the international community remains vigilant on how the platform handles personal data and its implications for national security. South China Morning Post reports that local tech giants like Kakao Corp and SK Hynix are also re-evaluating their relationships with generative AI, further indicating an industry-wide caution towards AI technologies.

For more information, visit the original articles from Times of India, South China Morning Post, and Reuters.