Saturday, June 21, 2025

DeepSeek AI Raises Eyebrows with Conflicting Answers on Dokdo Ownership and Data Practices

FILE - The icon for the smartphone app DeepSeek is displayed on a smartphone screen in Beijing on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. / Newsis
FILE – The icon for the smartphone app DeepSeek is displayed on a smartphone screen in Beijing on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. / Newsis

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.

A screenshot showing DeepSeek\'s conflicting responses to the question on Dokdo ownership.
A screenshot showing DeepSeek’s conflicting responses to the question on Dokdo ownership.

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.”

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