Synopsis
On February 6, the South Korean finance ministry decided to restrict access to the Chinese AI service DeepSeek amid data collection concerns. This action is part of broader government measures to safeguard sensitive information from potential leaks during the use of generative AI technologies.Key Takeaways
- South Korea's finance ministry to block DeepSeek.
- Access restricted due to data collection concerns.
- Generative AI usage limited across government ministries.
- DeepSeek launched last month, gaining attention.
- Security issues prompting scrutiny from multiple countries.
Seoul, Feb 6 (NationPress) The finance ministry has announced plans to restrict access to the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) platform DeepSeek, as confirmed by a ministry official on Thursday. This move is part of Seoul's ongoing efforts to limit the service's use among government officials due to concerns over data collection.
"In light of various technical issues raised both domestically and internationally regarding DeepSeek, we intend to block access to the service on computers linked to external networks," the official stated.
This decision aligns with a broader government initiative aimed at limiting usage of DeepSeek to mitigate the risk of potential leaks of sensitive information via generative AI technologies, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
On Wednesday, access to this service was already curtailed on systems within the foreign, trade, and defense ministries in South Korea.
Separately, a representative from the unification ministry indicated on Thursday that they also plan to restrict access to AI services, likely including DeepSeek.
"Since 2023, the unification ministry has forbidden the input of undisclosed official data into generative AI systems upon requests from the National Intelligence Service and the interior ministry," the official revealed.
When asked about the possibility of blocking access to DeepSeek, the official remarked, "We plan to implement follow-up actions today, including access restrictions," without explicitly naming the service.
DeepSeek has garnered considerable attention since its launch last month, impressing industry analysts with its exceptional performance at relatively low costs compared to other available options.
Nevertheless, apprehensions regarding its security and data management practices have prompted several countries to examine and impose limits on the service.
Previously, both the foreign and trade ministries restricted access to DeepSeek amid worries concerning user data collection. As per various ministry sources, access to the platform has been limited on computers within ministry networks linked to external sources.
These two ministries are critical government entities that manage sensitive information related to foreign affairs and trade. This action is perceived as part of the government's proactive measures to address fears that crucial governmental data could be compromised during the use of generative AI tools.
