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South Korea Blocks DeepSeek Amid Security Concerns, Following Global Warnings

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South Korea’s industry ministry has temporarily blocked employee access to the Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek due to security concerns, marking the latest move by governments to restrict the use of certain AI services. A ministry official confirmed on Wednesday that the ban was implemented in response to growing apprehension surrounding generative AI technologies.

On Tuesday, the South Korean government issued a notice urging caution among ministries and agencies regarding the use of AI services such as DeepSeek and ChatGPT in work-related tasks. The notice followed earlier actions by state-run entities, with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power confirming it had blocked access to DeepSeek earlier this month.

The country’s defense ministry also took action, blocking access to DeepSeek on military computers, while the foreign ministry restricted its use on devices connected to external networks, according to Yonhap News Agency. However, the foreign ministry did not provide further details regarding the specific security measures taken.

DeepSeek, which was not immediately available for comment, joins a growing list of companies facing scrutiny over potential security risks. Both Australia and Taiwan have recently banned the AI service from government devices, citing similar security concerns. In January, Italy’s data protection authority ordered DeepSeek to block its chatbot after the company failed to address privacy issues raised by regulators.

In addition to government actions, private companies in South Korea are also taking precautions. Kakao Corp, a major South Korean chat app operator, instructed employees to refrain from using DeepSeek due to security fears, particularly following its partnership with OpenAI. Other South Korean tech giants, including SK Hynix and Naver, have also restricted or limited access to generative AI services, citing concerns about data security and privacy.

The scrutiny of DeepSeek follows the company’s claim that its AI models are on par with or superior to products developed in the U.S., while being significantly cheaper to produce. South Korea’s information privacy watchdog has announced plans to inquire with DeepSeek about its user data management practices, adding another layer of regulatory attention on the Chinese startup.

 

Italy Investigates Spyware Targeting Seven WhatsApp Users

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Italy’s government reported on Wednesday that seven mobile phone users in the country were targeted by spyware on WhatsApp, sparking concerns over privacy violations. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office called the situation “particularly serious” and has directed the National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN) to investigate. The targeted individuals included a journalist and a prominent migrant rescue activist.

Luca Casarini, co-founder of the Mediterranea Saving Humans charity, shared with Reuters the spyware alert he received from WhatsApp on Friday, the same day Meta Platforms accused the surveillance company Paragon Solutions of targeting roughly 90 users across several countries, including activists and journalists.

The Italian cybersecurity agency was informed about the seven confirmed cases, but Meta has withheld the identities of the individuals to protect their privacy. The spyware also impacted users across various other EU nations, including Belgium, Greece, and Spain, among others.

Meta alleged that Paragon Solutions, reportedly based in the U.S., used a sophisticated “zero-click” hack to infiltrate users’ phones and steal data, a method that requires no interaction from the targeted individuals. A cease-and-desist letter was sent to Paragon, but the company did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Casarini, a frequent target of criticism from anti-migrant media, said the attempt to hack his phone was a violation of democracy. Similarly, Francesco Cancellato, an Italian journalist and recipient of one of the spyware alerts, expressed concern about the intrusion while conducting his own investigation into the incident.

 

South Korea Privacy Watchdog to Inquire About DeepSeek’s Use of Personal Information

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South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) plans to send a written request to DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence company, regarding its handling of personal information. The commission is seeking clarification on how DeepSeek manages user data. This investigation follows similar actions from privacy authorities in other countries, including France, Italy, and Ireland, who are also examining DeepSeek’s data practices.