Seoul - Following concerns over data privacy and security, South Korea's Ministry of Education has announced a ban on access to DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) service, for all schools and affiliated institutions. This decision comes after similar moves by other government bodies, including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of National Defense.

The Ministry of Education released an official statement on February 6th, citing the need to ensure the safety and security of personal information as the primary reason for the ban. The ministry has instructed all schools, from kindergartens to high schools, as well as its own affiliated organizations, to block access to DeepSeek.

However, universities and graduate schools have been exempted from the ban, given their focus on research. The ministry stated that these institutions can continue to use DeepSeek for academic research and educational purposes, but with strict adherence to security guidelines.

This decision follows an advisory issued by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on February 3rd, urging all government agencies and local governments to exercise caution when using generative AI services like ChatGPT and DeepSeek. The advisory emphasized the importance of not inputting sensitive information and avoiding the use of AI-generated content without thorough verification.

Concerns about DeepSeek's data collection practices have been raised, leading several government bodies to restrict access to the service through their internal networks. Currently, a number of central administrative agencies, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Financial Services Commission, and the National Police Agency, have blocked access to DeepSeek from their office computers.

This move by the South Korean government reflects growing concerns worldwide about the potential risks associated with AI services, particularly those developed by foreign entities. The focus on data privacy and security highlights the need for careful consideration and proactive measures when adopting new technologies.