Security researchers say the website of the Chinese artificial intelligence company DeepSeek has computer code that could send some user login information to a Chinese state-owned telecommunications company that's been barred from operating in the United States.

Researchers linked the AI chatbot to a Chinese state-owned telecommunications company, which has been banned from operating in the U.S.

China's AI chatbot DeepSeek is facing bans in India, the US, Australia, and several other nations over security risks. South Korea is the latest to block it, following Taiwan and Italy. Governments fear DeepSeek could compromise sensitive data,

Officials in South Korea and Australia have cited concerns about user data and national security as reasons to block the buzzy AI service from China.

South Korea's industry ministry has temporarily blocked employee access to Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek due to security concerns, a ministry official said on Wednesday, as the government urges caution on generative AI services.