Technology

 

Germany's data protection commissioner has formally requested that Apple and Google remove the Chinese AI app DeepSeek from their app stores in the country. The ban is primarily driven by significant data privacy concerns and alleged illegal data transfers to China.

Here's a breakdown of the reasons:

 * Illegal Data Transfers: Germany alleges that DeepSeek illegally transfers users' personal data to servers in China. DeepSeek's own privacy policy reportedly confirms that it stores user prompts, uploaded files, chat histories, and other personal data

on servers in China.

 * Lack of Equivalent Data Protection: German regulators, citing the EU's strict General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), state that DeepSeek has failed to provide convincing evidence that German users' data is protected in China to a level equivalent to that in the European Union.

 * Chinese Authorities' Access Rights: A major concern is that Chinese authorities have "far-reaching access rights to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies," meaning user data stored in China could be readily accessed by the Chinese government without adequate safeguards for users.

 * Failure to Comply with Prior Requests: Germany's data protection commissioner had previously asked DeepSeek in May 2025 to meet EU data transfer requirements or voluntarily withdraw the app. DeepSeek reportedly did not comply with either request, leading to the formal order for removal.

 * Wider European and Global Scrutiny: This move by Germany follows similar actions in other European countries. Italy blocked DeepSeek from its app stores earlier this year due to a lack of information on its data usage, and the Netherlands has banned it on government devices. There are also reports of the US considering banning executive agencies from using Chinese-developed AI models.

The German authorities have stated that Apple and Google must now review the order and decide whether to block the app in Germany. This action could potentially pave the way for an EU-wide ban on the DeepSeek app.