S. Korea Says DeepSeek Removed From Local App Stores Pending Privacy Review

Chinese startup DeepSeek's R1 chatbot stunned investors and industry insiders with its ability to match the skills of its Western competitors at a fraction of the cost (Credit: AFP)

South Korean authorities said Monday that DeepSeek would not be available from local app stores pending a review of the Chinese AI startup's handling of user data.

DeepSeek's R1 chatbot stunned investors and industry insiders with its ability to match the functions of its Western competitors at a fraction of the cost.