DeepSeek Chatbot Downloads Plunge 72% After Peak Surge

DeepSeek, the Chinese AI chatbot that captured global attention earlier this year, has seen its app downloads drop by approximately 72% from its February 2025 peak to May 2025.

🔍 What Happened?

• In February 2025, DeepSeek’s app downloads peaked at about 28.5 million globally, according to AppFigures and Business of Apps
• By May 2025, average monthly downloads had dwindled to just 5.4 million, marking a staggering 72% decline from the high point

🧭 Why the Sharp Decline?

1. Privacy & Data Security Concerns

DeepSeek faced multiple government bans over data management practices:

• South Korea paused DeepSeek’s downloads in February 2025, citing violations of local privacy laws
• Texas, the U.S. Navy, and other jurisdictions banned DeepSeek on government devices due to national security fears
• In July 2025, the Czech government banned DeepSeek entirely from public administration use, citing forced data sharing with Chinese authorities

2. Cybersecurity Incidents

A major breach exposed over one million records — including system logs, chat prompts, and API keys — triggering user and regulatory backlah. Confirmation came shortly after from multiple reports highlighting a large-scale malicious attack on DeepSeek’s infrastructure

3. Falling Behind the Hype Cycle

After an explosive launch in January 2025—when DeepSeek overtook ChatGPT in App Store rankings globally—the initial momentum waned. Downloads dropped sharply from early peak levels as market novelty faded

📊 Download Trend Overview

🌐 Broader Implications

• User trust erosion: Privacy and security concerns contributed heavily to slowdown.
• Regulatory pushback: Bans by governments and institutions limited official access.
• Competitive dynamics: The bot’s novelty faded amid concerns and legal scrutiny.
• Market volatility in AI apps: DeepSeek’s trajectory shows how quickly a hyped app can decline.