German Data Regulator Seeks DeepSeek AI App Removal from App Stores

Berlin’s data protection commissioner, Meike Kamp, asked Apple and Google to remove the DeepSeek AI app from their German stores, citing privacy risks linked to potential data transfers to China without adequate safeguards.

Kamp noted that Chinese authorities have extensive access rights to personal data held by Chinese companies. She added that her agency could not obtain “convincing evidence” that German users' data would receive protections equal to those guaranteed under EU law.

The formal notification to Apple and Google follows a May warning to DeepSeek. Kamp instructed the company to either implement proper data protection measures for transfers outside the EU or voluntarily remove its service from Germany. DeepSeek ignored the May directive and failed to show any protective measures for data sent to Chinese servers. None of the companies commented on the current order.

Germany joins other countries taking action against DeepSeek. Italy blocked the app from its stores earlier this year, citing a lack of transparency about personal data use. The Netherlands banned the app from government devices.

In the United States, lawmakers are preparing legislation to prevent federal agencies from using AI models developed in China. The proposed ban reflects national security and data privacy concerns over using Chinese-developed AI models in U.S. government agencies.

DeepSeek gained industry attention in January 2025 when it released an AI model that claimed to match the capabilities of U.S. competitors like OpenAI's ChatGPT while operating at much lower costs. 

Since then, the startup has faced data security investigations in multiple countries. Recent reports have linked DeepSeek to supporting China's military and intelligence services by providing advanced analytics and computational resources.