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German Data Protection Office demands removal of DeepSeek app
Meike Kamp, Germany's data protection and freedom of information commissioner, has formally asked Apple and Google to remove an app by Chinese company DeepSeek from their app stores in Germany. The reason? Serious concerns about personal data protection, similar to those that have already led some other European countries to take action against the app.
As the commissioner explained in her statement, DeepSeek is allegedly illegally transferring users' personal data to China. The company acknowledges in its privacy policy that it stores a variety of personal data on computers in China, including queries that users enter into its artificial intelligence system and uploaded files.
"DeepSeek has failed to provide convincing evidence that German users' data in China is protected at a level comparable to that in the European Union," Kamp said, noting that Chinese authorities have very broad powers to access personal data held by companies under their influence.
The commissioner added that Apple and Google must now quickly examine her request and decide whether to block the DeepSeek app on the German market. Her office did not set a specific deadline for this decision.
The German commissioner took this step after she called on DeepSeek in May to comply with the conditions for transferring data outside the EU or voluntarily remove its app from app stores. The company did not respond to this call.
DeepSeek shocked the tech world earlier this year with claims that it had developed an artificial intelligence model that could rival American systems like ChatGPT, but at significantly lower costs. However, the company has long faced data security concerns in the US and Europe.
For example, Italy has already blocked DeepSeek from its app stores due to a lack of information about how it uses personal data. The Netherlands has banned DeepSeek from being used on state institution devices. Belgium has advised government employees not to use the apps while further analysis is underway. In Spain, consumer group OCU called on the country’s data protection authority in February to investigate the potential risks posed by DeepSeek, but a ban has not yet been imposed.
The British government, meanwhile, said that “the use of DeepSeek remains a personal decision for citizens,” but added that it was closely monitoring potential threats to national security and misuse of personal data. If evidence of threats emerged, it would “take action without hesitation,” it said.
Only time will tell how Apple and Google decide.
