Germany Calls on Apple and Google to Take Down DeepSeek from App Stores

If someone is able to show me that what I think or do is not right, I will happily change, for I seek the truth, by which no one was ever truly harmed. It is the person who continues in his self-deception and ignorance who is harmed.

Germany’s data protection authority has asked Apple and Google to remove the Chinese AI app DeepSeek from their German app stores. The reason is that DeepSeek is accused of quietly sending German users’ data, including AI chats, device info, and even keystroke patterns, back to servers in China without meeting EU privacy standards.

Meike Kamp, Berlin’s data protection commissioner, says DeepSeek failed to prove its user data is protected at the same level required by GDPR. She warned that, under Chinese law, authorities there could tap into personal data held by Chinese companies. German regulators first gave the company time to meet EU data rules or pull out voluntarily, but got no response. This isn’t a one-off incident. Earlier this year, Italy banned DeepSeek for similar reasons. The Netherlands, along with government bodies in Australia, South Korea, and Taiwan, have either blocked or banned its use. In the U.S., lawmakers are weighing restrictions, especially in government agencies.

DeepSeek shot to fame in January by releasing an AI model that cost a fraction to produce compared to rivals like ChatGPT, and quickly racked up millions of downloads. But its rapid rise brought intense scrutiny, not only for its low-cost tech but for its data practices and ties to Chinese state surveillance. This move emphasizes how Europe is tightening the reins on foreign AI apps, especially those based in China, when it comes to data privacy and national security. The outcome of Germany’s request could set a precedent for other EU countries and potentially lead to a wider ban.