Key takeaways from recent developments surrounding DeepSeek:

• South Korea has suspended new downloads of DeepSeek’s AI chatbot pending a privacy review.
• The Chinese start-up's app is still available for existing users but has sparked growing concern over data privacy.
• Regulatory scrutiny is expanding globally, with bans also implemented in countries like Australia and Taiwan.

South Korea's Personal Information Protection Commission has announced that the Chinese-developed DeepSeek AI chatbot will no longer be available for new downloads in the country. This decision came after the app rapidly gained popularity, becoming the top-rated free app and attracting over a million weekly users. However, concerns regarding its compliance with South Korea’s stringent data protection laws led to this decisive action. The commission has stated that the app will only return to the app stores once it adheres to local regulations.

As of Saturday evening, DeepSeek was taken down from both Apple and Google app stores in South Korea. While existing users can still access the app, their ability to do so comes with caution. The South Korean regulator has urged users to refrain from entering personal information into the app to avoid potential privacy violations. “To prevent further concerns from spreading,” the commission recommended a temporary suspension of service for improvements to be made, indicating that it could take considerable time to rectify compliance issues. This aligns with earlier government directives that warned employees against using DeepSeek on work devices, citing security risks.

China's DeepSeek has not only shaken up South Korea but has also drawn scrutiny in various countries due to its alleged data management practices. In response to the bans, the Chinese government emphasized that its companies operate in compliance with local laws and criticized the politicization of such technological matters. In a recent meeting with top Chinese leaders, DeepSeek's founder, Liang Wenfeng, was recognized for the company's achievements.

The chatbot's rapid ascent and its ability to rival established players like OpenAI’s ChatGPT come amidst tensions over technology, data security, and national sovereignty. Lawmakers in the United States have also proposed a bill to prevent DeepSeek’s use on federal devices, echoing similar concerns expressed by government authorities in Australia and Taiwan. In Europe, Italy's data protection agency has put restrictions on DeepSeek pending a thorough review of its operations, further illustrating the global ramifications of the chatbot's data handling practices.

For more on this unfolding story, refer to BBC and New York Times.