Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek is facing possible removal from Apple and Google app stores in Germany after the country’s data protection commissioner raised serious concerns about the company’s handling of user data.
On Friday, Germany’s Data Protection Commissioner Meike Kamp confirmed she had formally requested the two tech giants to delist DeepSeek’s app from their German stores. The move follows mounting scrutiny over how AI companies manage personal data, particularly when linked to countries with strict data access laws such as China.
Kamp cited violations of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), accusing DeepSeek of illegally transferring users’ personal data to servers based in China. “Such actions expose users to potential surveillance risks and run contrary to EU data protection principles,” she stated.
DeepSeek, which made headlines in January by claiming it had built a large language model rivaling those developed by U.S.-based firms like OpenAI but at significantly lower cost has rapidly grown in popularity. The company’s promise of affordable, high-performance AI tools raised both interest and skepticism, especially in the West.
This latest development in Germany echoes actions taken in other jurisdictions where regulators have heightened scrutiny of Chinese tech firms. Concerns primarily revolve around the Chinese government’s ability to access data under its national security laws, leading to fears of potential misuse or unauthorized surveillance of foreign users.
Apple and Google have not yet publicly responded to the request. If they comply, the decision could significantly impact DeepSeek’s expansion in Europe and signal broader regulatory resistance to AI applications that do not meet the EU’s strict data governance standards.
Germany has long been a staunch defender of digital privacy rights, and its regulators have frequently taken strong positions on data protection. Kamp’s move may also influence other EU nations to reevaluate the presence of apps developed in jurisdictions deemed non-compliant with GDPR.
As the global race to dominate AI technology intensifies, DeepSeek’s troubles underscore a critical tension between innovation, national security, and the enforcement of privacy laws across borders.
