Is DeepSeek partnering with ByteDance?
Created on February 19|Last edited on February 19
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South Korea has accused Chinese AI startup DeepSeek of sharing user data with ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. The country’s data protection regulator, the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), confirmed that it had detected communication between DeepSeek and ByteDance, though it has yet to determine the exact nature and extent of the data transfer. This comes after South Korea removed DeepSeek from app stores over the weekend due to privacy concerns.
DeepSeek's Rapid Rise and Controversy
DeepSeek made headlines in January after claims that its AI model was trained at a significantly lower cost than US competitors like ChatGPT. The Chinese app quickly climbed to the top of App Store rankings in several countries, including the US and the UK, but concerns about data security soon followed. Several countries, including Australia and Taiwan, have since issued warnings or restrictions on the app due to fears of improper data handling.
US Cybersecurity Firm Flags Potential Data Transfers
Cybersecurity company Security Scorecard published a report on February 10 suggesting that DeepSeek's Android app had multiple connections to ByteDance services, indicating deep integration with the company's analytics and performance monitoring systems. The report also raised concerns that user behavior data and device metadata were likely being transmitted to ByteDance servers, with some data appearing to be linked to Chinese state-owned entities.
South Korea's Regulatory Response
The PIPC stated that its investigation found evidence of third-party data transfers and a lack of transparency in DeepSeek’s privacy policy. While DeepSeek has cooperated with regulators and admitted to failing to fully comply with South Korean privacy laws, the PIPC has advised users to be cautious and avoid entering personal data into the chatbot. The South Korean government has already banned DeepSeek from government devices, following similar actions by other countries.
ByteDance’s Involvement and Broader Security Concerns
ByteDance has long been at the center of privacy debates due to concerns that the Chinese government could access data from its platforms under China’s National Intelligence Law. Critics argue that this law enables the government to demand data from Chinese companies, while others claim it also provides protections for private businesses. The ongoing concerns over ByteDance’s data practices were a key factor in the US Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a ban on TikTok, though that ban is currently on hold until April 5 as negotiations continue.
DeepSeek’s Future Amid Growing Scrutiny
Despite its early success, DeepSeek now faces increasing regulatory scrutiny, and its rankings in app stores have dropped significantly below ChatGPT in markets like the UK. While existing users can still access the chatbot via web browsers, its long-term prospects remain uncertain as governments and cybersecurity experts continue to investigate its data practices. The BBC has reached out to ByteDance, DeepSeek’s parent company High Flyer, and South Korea’s PIPC for further comments.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gex0x87g4o
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