Germany has instructed Apple and Google to remove the Chinese artificial intelligence app DeepSeek from their app stores in the country, citing unlawful transfers of user information to China. The decision follows concerns raised by Germany’s data protection commissioner, Meike Kamp, who stated that DeepSeek failed to provide credible assurances of compliance with European Union data protection regulations.
Kamp highlighted the far-reaching powers held by Chinese authorities to access personal data collected by Chinese companies, emphasizing the need for strict adherence to EU privacy laws. German regulators previously requested that DeepSeek either meet EU data transfer requirements or voluntarily withdraw from the German market. DeepSeek, however, did not take actions deemed sufficient to resolve these concerns.
Earlier this year, Italy similarly banned DeepSeek from app stores within its borders, citing analogous issues with data protection as those raised by German authorities. European privacy advocates have expressed particular unease given DeepSeek’s explicit policies, which acknowledge storing user data within Chinese jurisdiction.
Neither Apple nor Google have publicly responded to Germany’s directive at this time.
