German Regulators Request Removal of DeepSeek App
On Friday, Germany’s top regulatory body urged Google and Apple to eliminate the Chinese AI startup DeepSeek from their app stores, citing significant data privacy issues.
Meike Kamp, a representative on the German data protection committee, highlighted the legality concerns, stating it is “illegal” for DeepSeek to send German user data to servers located in China.
“DeepSeek hasn’t given my agency enough convincing evidence that the user data of Germans is safeguarded to an equivalent level as required by the European Union while in China,” Kamp remarked.
She went on to express concerns over the extensive access Chinese authorities have to personal data linked to companies operating in China. Kamp advised both tech giants to swiftly consider her recommendations regarding the potential ban on the DeepSeek app, although no specific deadline was established. She pointed out that DeepSeek has not adhered to requests to comply with the EU’s data privacy regulations.
Representatives from Google and Apple have yet to respond to requests for comments.
DeepSeek gained attention earlier this year, claiming to have developed AI models that rival those of competitors like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This announcement generated significant fluctuations in major tech stock prices, particularly because DeepSeek asserted it lacked access to the most advanced computer chips.
According to its terms of service, DeepSeek stores user data “on a secure server in the Republic of China.” The app also claims to collect various pieces of personal information, including “device model, operating system, keystroke pattern, IP address, and system language.”
In March, The Wall Street Journal indicated that there is a possibility the Trump administration might prohibit the DeepSeek app from being used on government devices.
New York has already taken steps to block it from its government devices and networks due to notable concerns over privacy and potential censorship. Additionally, Italy has banned the app from its app store, while the Netherlands has restricted it from government equipment.
