DeepSeek Faces Ban From Apple and Google App Stores in Germany

Germany's data protection commissioner has asked Apple (AAPL.O) and Google (GOOGL.O) to remove Chinese AI startup DeepSeek from their app stores in the country over data protection concerns, following a similar crackdown elsewhere.

 

Commissioner Meike Kamp said in a statement Friday that she made the request because DeepSeek illegally transferred users' personal data to China.

She added that the two US tech giants must now review the request immediately and decide whether to block the app in Germany, although her office did not set an exact timeframe.

Google said it was aware of the notice and was reviewing it. DeepSeek did not respond to a request for comment. Apple was not immediately available for comment.

According to its own privacy policy, open new tab, DeepSeek stores a lot of personal data, such as requests for AI programs or uploaded files, on computers in China.

 

'DeepSeek could not provide my agency with convincing evidence that German users' data is protected in China at the same level as in the European Union ,' Ms. Kamp said.

'The Chinese government has extensive access to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies ,' she added.

The commissioner said she made the decision after asking DeepSeek in May to comply with the requirements for data transfers outside the EU or voluntarily withdraw its application. She added that DeepSeek had failed to comply with this request.

DeepSeek shocked the tech world in January when it announced that it had developed an AI model that could compete with models from U.S. companies like OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT , at a much lower cost. However, the company has come under scrutiny in the United States and Europe over its data privacy policies.

Italy blocked the app from app stores earlier this year, citing a lack of information about its use of personal data, while the Netherlands has banned the app from government devices.

Belgium has advised government officials not to use DeepSeek. 'Further analysis is underway to assess the approach to follow ,' a government spokesperson said.

In Spain, consumer rights group OCU asked the government's data protection authority in February to investigate possible threats posed by DeepSeek, although no ban has yet taken effect.

The UK government said that 'the use of DeepSeek remains a personal choice for the public' .
'We continue to monitor any national security threats to UK citizens and their data from all sources ,' a spokesperson for the UK's Department for Technology said.
'If there is evidence of a threat, we will not hesitate to take appropriate steps to protect our national security' .

US lawmakers plan to introduce a bill that would ban US law enforcement agencies from using any AI models developed in China.

This week, Reuters exclusively reported that DeepSeek is supporting Chinese intelligence and military operations.