DeepSeek is prohibited from the German Google and Apple app stores

Following a similar crackdown in other countries, Germany’s data protection commissioner requested that Apple and Google remove DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence business, from their app stores in the country due to data protection concerns.

According to Commissioner Meike Kamp, who made the request on Friday, DeepSeek unlawfully sends user data to China.

She noted that although her office has not set a specific timeframe, the two U.S. tech giants must now swiftly consider the request and determine whether to prohibit the app in Germany.

DeepSeek’s own privacy policy states that it keeps a lot of personal information on Chinese computers, including uploaded files and requests to its AI algorithm.

“DeepSeek has been unable to provide my agency with convincing evidence that German user data is protected in China to a level equivalent to that of the European Union,” Kamp said. “Chinese authorities have extensive rights of access to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies,” he added.

According to the commissioner, she took this action after requesting in May that DeepSeek either voluntarily withdraw its application or comply with the regulations governing data transfers beyond the EU. She said that DeepSeek refused to comply with this request.