(The Associated Press): DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, has temporarily halted downloads of its chatbot apps in South Korea while cooperating with local authorities to resolve privacy concerns, officials announced on Monday. The apps were removed from the South Korean versions of Apple's App Store and Google Play over the weekend, following discussions with the country’s Personal Information Protection Commission. DeepSeek has committed to improving its privacy protocols prior to relaunching the applications.

While users who had previously downloaded the chatbot application on their smartphones or used it on PCs will no longer be able to do so, commission official Nam Seok recommends that South Korean users consider uninstalling the app or at least refraining from giving out personal information until such time that the privacy issues are resolved.

DeepSeek gained international recognition last month after asserting that the cost of developing its chatbot was far less than that of its American competitors. The claim sparked a surge of interest, which had an impact on markets and intensified debates on the AI race between the US and China.

Several South Korean government agencies and businesses have restricted access to DeepSeek on their networks or forbidden employees from using it for work purposes. Concerns have grown that the AI model might be collecting a large amount of sensitive data, leading to caution in its use.

An ongoing investigation by South Korea’s privacy commission, initiated last month, revealed that DeepSeek lacked sufficient transparency regarding data sharing with third parties and may have been gathering excessive personal information, according to Nam.

The commission has yet to determine how many South Koreans use DeepSeek. However, a recent analysis by Wiseapp Retail estimated that approximately 1.2 million smartphone users in South Korea used the chatbot in the fourth week of January, making it the country’s second-most-popular AI model, trailing only ChatGPT.

DeepSeek’s compliance with South Korean authorities could set a precedent for other AI companies operating in the region. As discussions continue, the company faces the challenge of meeting regulatory requirements while maintaining its competitive presence in the AI industry.