DeepSeek faces ban from app stores in Germany

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DeepSeek faces ban from app stores in Germany

Germany's data protection commissioner has asked Apple and Google to remove the app of Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek from their respective app stores in the country over data protection concerns.

This request comes after Reuters reported days ago, citing a US official, that DeepSeek supports Chinese military and intelligence operations.

German Data Protection Commissioner Maike Kamp said in a statement on Friday that she filed the request because DeepSeek was illegally transferring users' personal data to China, according to Reuters.

She added that the two American tech giants must now immediately review the request and decide whether to ban the app in Germany.

According to the company's privacy policy, DeepSeek stores a lot of personal data—such as requests made for its AI application or files uploaded—on computers in China.

Kamp said, "DeepSeek was unable to provide my agency with convincing evidence that German user data is protected in China to a level comparable to that in the EU."

She added, "Chinese authorities have broad access rights to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies."

The commissioner said she made this decision after asking DeepSeek in May to meet data transfer requirements outside the EU or voluntarily withdraw its app, adding that DeepSeek had failed to comply with this request.

DeepSeeek shocked the tech world last January with claims that it had developed an AI model that rivaled those of American companies like OpenAI, the developer of the ChatGPT chatbot, at a much lower cost.

However, the company has come under scrutiny in the United States and Europe for its data security policies.

Italy banned the app from app stores earlier this year, citing a lack of information about its use of personal data, while the Netherlands banned it from government devices.

US lawmakers are planning to introduce a bill that would prohibit US executive agencies from using any AI models developed in China.