South Korean Data Protection Office Suspends Local Services of Deepseeka, a Popular Data Brokering Platform
Seoul, South Korea – The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) of South Korea has announced the suspension of local services of Deepseeka, a popular data brokering platform that specializes in providing consumer data to businesses and researchers. The decision was made following an investigation into the company’s handling of sensitive personal data.
Deepseeka, which operates globally, was accused of repeatedly violating the country’s data protection law by sharing personal identifiable information (PII) of South Korean individuals without their consent. The PIIPC found that the company had failed to comply with the country’s data protection regulations, including the amended Personal Information Protection Act, which came into effect in 2018.
The investigation revealed that Deepseeka had been using third-party data aggregators to collect and share the personal data of South Koreans, often without their knowledge or consent. The company also failed to implement adequate security measures to protect the collected data, which made it vulnerable to unauthorized access and data breaches.
The suspension of services was announced on Monday, and Deepseeka is now required to stop providing services in South Korea. The company has also been ordered to delete all collected data related to South Korean individuals and to pay a fine of 10 million won (approximately $8,500 USD).
The suspension of Deepseeka’s services is a significant blow to the company, which has been a major player in the data brokering industry. However, the move is seen as a necessary step to protect the privacy and data security of South Korean citizens.
"Protecting personal data is a vital part of our mission to ensure the digital well-being of our citizens," said the head of the PIIPC, Yoon Jong-ho. "We will continue to monitor and take action against companies that violate our data protection regulations. We expect all companies operating in South Korea to comply with our laws and regulations to ensure the trust and confidence of our citizens."
The suspension of Deepseeka’s services is a warning to other companies operating in South Korea that the PIIPC will not hesitate to take action against companies that fail to comply with the country’s data protection laws. The move is also seen as a step towards establishing a culture of data protection in South Korea, where companies are required to prioritize the privacy and security of individuals’ personal data.
In the meantime, Deepseeka has announced that it will challenge the suspension in court, claiming that the PIIPC’s decision is unfair and disproportionate. However, the company’s move is seen as a desperate attempt to try to salvage its reputation and operation in South Korea. The fate of Deepseeka’s services in South Korea remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the company’s alleged data protection violations have had significant consequences for the company and for the reputation of the data brokering industry as a whole.
