South Korea has become the latest country to ban the Chinese AI app DeepSeek from its app stores, following similar actions being made by governments in Italy, Australia, and Taiwan.
DeepSeek’s open-source model and cost-effective approach to AI development are revolutionizing the AI industry. Yet, as the app continues to top global app marketplaces, its data collection practices and close ties to the People’s Republic of China are coming under increased scrutiny.
South Korean officials claim the ban won’t be permanent. But with legislators already starting to crack down on the chatbot on home soil, we discuss whether DeepSeek could be next in line for a TikTok-style ban in the US.
South Korea Bans DeepSeek From App Stores Over Data Concerns
The fast-growing Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek is no longer available in South Korean app stores, as concerns over the app’s data handling practices escalate.
The ban is only temporary, however. According to South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), the controversial app will be able to be downloaded once “improvements and remedies” are made to ensure it complies with local data protection laws.
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The agency added that DeepSeek was fully cooperating with them, and acknowledged that “considerations for domestic privacy laws were somewhat lacking.” The recent block of DeepSeek on South Korea’s version of the App Store follows similar actions made by local app markets on Saturday.
DeepSeek Continues To Disrupt the AI Sector
The temporary app store ban follows DeepSeek’s rapid growth in South Korea, with the chatbot recently topping app store charts and amassing over a million weekly users.
But DeepSeek isn’t only becoming a fan favorite in South Korea. The app experienced significant global growth in 2025 – attracting 278 million mobile and desktop visits in January 2025, compared to 12 million the month previous. This spike in interest is primarily due to DeepSeek’s unique large language model (LLM), which is capable of delivering high-quality AI features at a much lower cost than competitors like ChatGPT.
DeepSeek’s novel approach to artificial development has proved that global competitors such as China can create models that match the US at a fraction of the price, challenging the US’s market dominance, and causing what President Donald Trump described as a “wake-up call” for the tech industry.
DeepSeek’s Close Ties to the Chinese Government Sparks Concerns
While DeepSeek collects similar data to rivals – including names, text prompts, and IP addresses – its close tie with the Chinese government is what’s ringing alarm bells for many.
The Chinese government has the right to access data collected from international DeepSeek users, and is able to leverage whatever information it needs to “cooperate with national intelligence efforts.”
While this doesn’t necessarily mean the data will be used for nefarious purposes, the US government fears that data sensitive data could be exploited for surveillance or espionage purposes. Combine this with the accusations that the app is pushing Chinese propaganda, and it’s no surprise that lawmakers are approaching DeepSeek with caution.
Is DeepSeek Going to Be Banned In the US?
While no nationwide has been announced, several states have taken action to restrict its use on state-owned devices including Texas, New York, and most recently, Virginia. The US government is also keeping a close eye on DeepSeek, with several federal agencies like the US Navy, and NASA rolling out warnings or restrictions on the app’s use.
However, with these restrictions mainly relating to government devices and networks, it’s extremely unlikely DeepSeek will be blocked for consumer use, in a similar way to TikTok’s brief but sweeping US ban.
Interested in using the fast-growing AI app safely? We outline what data not to share with DeepSeek.
