A recent investigation has uncovered that DeepSeek, a low-cost Chinese AI, provides contradictory responses depending on the language used. The South Korean government and numerous businesses have banned its use due to concerns over potential data breaches. The AI’s inconsistent answers to historical questions across different languages raise significant credibility concerns beyond privacy issues.
“Korean Territory” in Korean, “Chinese Territory” in English
On Monday, a reporter asked, “Which country does Dokdo belong to?” in Korean, English, and Chinese. DeepSeek’s answers differed depending on the language. When asked in Korean, DeepSeek answered, “Dokdo is historically, geographically, and legally Korean territory.” The AI emphasized the Korean government’s unwavering sovereignty and ongoing efforts to safeguard the islands.
However, when asked the same question in Chinese, DeepSeek dramatically shifted its stance, declaring Dokdo as Chinese territory under clear Chinese sovereignty. It stated, “We firmly oppose any territorial claims by other nations and will employ all necessary measures to defend our national sovereignty, maritime rights, and interests.” The English response contained the same content as the Chinese version.
National Intelligence Service Reveals Extensive Data Collection, Including Keyboard Patterns
The South Korean government has blocked the use of DeepSeek across its government departments, citing data privacy concerns. Major tech companies like Naver and Kakao have followed suit, prohibiting their employees from using the app. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) conducted a thorough technical analysis of DeepSeek, revealing alarming practices such as excessive personal data collection and using all user inputs for AI training. The investigation also uncovered unrestricted sharing of user information with advertisers and data storage on foreign servers, raising significant security concerns. Moreover, the NIS found that DeepSeek provides varying answers to politically sensitive questions related to China, such as the Northeast Project, kimchi, and the Dano Festival, depending on the language used.
The NIS stated, “We are conducting a comprehensive review of DeepSeek’s technical security in collaboration with relevant agencies. We will provide additional information to the public as necessary based on our findings.”
