Hyundai Motor Group Limits Employee Access to DeepSeek AI
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Synopsis
On February 7, Hyundai Motor Group announced a ban on employee access to the Chinese AI service DeepSeek due to data privacy concerns. This decision aligns with actions taken by various South Korean government agencies to mitigate potential data breaches.
Key Takeaways
- Hyundai Motor Group restricts access to DeepSeek.
- Concerns over data privacy are rising.
- Restrictions will extend to international branches.
- Other South Korean agencies have blocked access as well.
- Ministry of Environment and other bodies initiated similar bans.
Seoul, Feb 7 (NationPress) Hyundai Motor Group has implemented restrictions on its staff regarding the use of DeepSeek, a Chinese generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool, due to apprehensions about possible data breaches, as per sources on Friday.
Both Hyundai Motor and Kia released an internal memorandum notifying employees at their Seoul headquarters that access to DeepSeek would be curtailed due to risks associated with information security, the sources reported, according to Yonhap news agency.
This prohibition also applies to other divisions within Hyundai Motor Group, such as Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Wia, and Hyundai Glovis, they added.
The company intends to extend these restrictions to its international branches in the near future, as confirmed by company representatives.
This action follows similar measures undertaken by various government agencies and businesses in South Korea earlier this week, driven by rising concerns over data privacy linked to the Chinese AI platform.
Previously, the Ministry of Environment and other governmental bodies on Thursday initiated a ban on accessing DeepSeek, highlighting worries regarding the collection of user data.
The ministry has blocked access to DeepSeek from its connected computers, although it did not impose such restrictions on other generative AI services like OpenAI and ChatGPT.
"The intelligence agencies have recommended exercising caution in the use of DeepSeek, as its personal data collection mechanisms remain unclear," an official from the ministry stated.
The Board of Audit and Inspection, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, and the Ministry of Government Legislation have also restricted access to DeepSeek, citing fears of personal data leakage to the Chinese service.
As part of these actions, the education ministry has opted to prohibit the Chinese AI platform, with this decision impacting kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools.
Following the interior ministry's request on Tuesday for central government departments and 17 local governments to be cautious about using generative AIs like DeepSeek, the foreign, trade, defense, and finance ministries have also blocked access to the Chinese AI service.
