South Korea: Investigates DeepSeek's Data Practices with Global Partners

South Korea's Personal Information Protection Commission (“PIPC”) has launched an investigation into DeepSeek, an artificial intelligence company, to examine how it handles personal data.

Announced on 7 February, 2025, the investigation focuses on DeepSeek’s operations in Hangzhou and Beijing. The PIPC is looking into what personal information is collected, why it is gathered, how it is stored and used, and whether it is shared with third parties.

As part of the inquiry, the PIPC is reviewing privacy policies and terms of use to compare data practices. The commission is also working closely with international regulators, including the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”), France’s CNIL, and Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (“DPC”). Additionally, diplomatic discussions with China are ongoing.

Depending on its findings, the PIPC may propose measures to ensure that DeepSeek manages personal data safely.

For more details, the official press release is available in Korean - here