Prevent Information Leakage... Gyeongnam Province Blocks Access to Generative AI 'DeepSeek'

Gyeongsangnam-do has completely blocked access to the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) service 'Deepseek' on all work computers at the provincial government office and city/county offices.

Amid the recent spread of Deepseek access blocks centered on the government and financial institutions due to concerns over sensitive information leaks, Gyeongsangnam-do also started blocking access from 3 p.m. on the 6th to prevent the possibility of sensitive administrative information leakage.

The method involves fundamentally blocking access to the Deepseek site and application using intrusion prevention systems (Firewall) and encrypted traffic visualization equipment.

However, access to other generative AI services such as Chat GPT developed by Open AI was not blocked.

Gyeongsangnam-do plans to continue the blocking measures until stability is secured and will continuously review security to take additional actions.

Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office. Photo by Lee Se-ryeong

Deepseek is a generative AI developed in China that provides functions similar to Chat GPT.

However, concerns have been raised that Deepseek's data collection methods and security system are more vulnerable than other generative AI, prompting the government and financial institutions to respond swiftly.

On the 4th, the government sent an official letter to each central ministry and metropolitan local government requesting special attention to security when using generative AI, due to concerns about the possibility of sensitive information leakage during its use.

Following the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Unification, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Health and Welfare, and Ministry of Environment have also blocked or plan to block access.

In the financial sector, the Export-Import Bank, a policy bank, blocked Deepseek access from the 31st of last month, followed by major commercial banks such as KB Kookmin Bank, Hana Bank, and Woori Bank, which have blocked Deepseek access on internal external networks and customer PCs.