A German data protection official has asked Apple and Google to remove Chinese AI app DeepSeek from their app stores in the country, saying the app transfers users’ information to China illegally, Reuters reported.
Meike Kamp, Berlin’s Commissioner for data protection and freedom of information, told the companies that DeepSeek did not provide “convincing evidence” that users’ data was protected as required by EU laws, the report said.
“Chinese authorities have far-reaching access rights to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies,” Kamp said, adding that the two tech firms must now decide whether to remove the app.
Kamp said that her office had asked DeepSeek to comply with EU laws for transferring data outside the bloc or pull its app from the country, but the Chinese company did not do so.
Italy earlier this year banned DeepSeek from app stores in the country, citing similar data protection concerns.
Notably, two key details about DeepSeek that consumer privacy advocate groups in the EU highlighted are that the service is made in and operates out of China. Per its privacy policy, this includes the information and data that DeepSeek collects and stores, which is also housed in its home country.
Apple and Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This story was corrected to clarify that Berlin’s data protection commissioner issued the order.
