Kristina Roberts
Germany has raised serious concerns about the Chinese artificial intelligence company DeepSeek, asking tech giants Apple and Google to remove the app from their stores within the country. This action comes after fears that DeepSeek may be mishandling user data and transferring it to China without proper safeguards. Germany’s Federal Data Protection Commissioner, Meike Kamp, took this step after claiming the company failed to prove that personal data of German users is being kept safe according to European standards. As of now, Apple and Google must consider the request and decide whether to remove the app from their platforms in Germany.
In a statement released Friday, Meike Kamp said that DeepSeek had not been able to provide her office with strong evidence that the data collected from users in Germany was being protected to the same level required within the European Union. “DeepSeek has not been able to provide my agency with convincing evidence that German users’ data is protected in China to a level equivalent to that in the European Union,” she stated. She also pointed out that Chinese authorities have wide-reaching powers when it comes to accessing data managed by companies within their borders. This, according to Kamp, makes it very difficult for any Chinese company to claim full protection of European users’ privacy.
The situation escalated when DeepSeek failed to respond to earlier requests from German authorities. Kamp mentioned that her office had already asked the company in May to either make necessary adjustments for international data transfer compliance or voluntarily remove its app from the market. DeepSeek reportedly did not cooperate or make changes in response to this warning. Now, the pressure is on Apple and Google, who are being asked to act quickly. While there is no specific deadline given for their decision, they are expected to respond soon. Google confirmed it has received the notice and is currently reviewing the situation. DeepSeek and Apple have not made any official comments so far.
According to DeepSeek’s own privacy policy, the app collects and stores a large amount of personal data from its users. This includes uploaded documents, user questions, and interactions with its AI. All of this data is reportedly stored on servers located in China. While this may not seem like an issue on the surface, storing personal information in a country with different laws and data privacy rules poses major challenges. In the European Union, there are very strict regulations under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which require companies to safeguard users’ information and explain how it’s being used.
DeepSeek made headlines earlier this year when it claimed that its artificial intelligence model could compete with top products like ChatGPT, and do so at a much lower cost. The app gained attention not only in Asia but across the globe. However, along with that attention came growing worries about how the company was handling the data it collected. These concerns have not only been voiced in Germany but have spread to other parts of Europe and even the United States.
Italy was one of the first countries to take firm action. Earlier this year, Italian authorities blocked DeepSeek from being available on app stores, stating that the company had failed to explain clearly how it was using personal information. Similarly, the Netherlands decided to ban the app from government-issued devices, suggesting they too had concerns about the risks involved. Belgium also responded by warning government employees not to use DeepSeek. A government representative said, “Further analyses are underway to evaluate the approach to be followed.” In Spain, a consumer protection group called OCU requested the country’s data protection agency to look into DeepSeek’s activities. Although Spain has not yet banned the app, it is clearly taking the matter seriously.
Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, the government has taken a more cautious approach. Officials have said that people are free to use DeepSeek if they choose, but they are carefully watching for any risks to national security. “We continue to monitor any national security threats to UK citizens and their data from all sources,” said a spokesperson from the UK’s technology ministry. “If evidence of threats arises, we will not hesitate to take the appropriate steps to protect our national security.”
Across the Atlantic, lawmakers in the United States are also looking at DeepSeek with suspicion. Members of Congress are reportedly working on a new bill that would prevent U.S. government agencies from using any AI tools made by Chinese companies. This move is part of a broader effort by the U.S. to limit its reliance on Chinese technology, especially in areas that deal with sensitive data or could impact national security. There are concerns that AI platforms like DeepSeek could be used by foreign governments to collect information or influence public opinion in other countries.
This wave of caution and regulation comes at a time when artificial intelligence is expanding rapidly around the world. As more and more people start using AI tools in their daily lives, the need to protect personal data becomes even more important. Governments are realizing that they need to step in and create clear rules about where data is stored, who has access to it, and how it can be used. In the case of DeepSeek, many believe that the company has not done enough to reassure authorities that their users’ data is being handled with the necessary care.
The story of DeepSeek highlights a bigger issue that goes beyond just one app. It shows how technology is growing faster than the laws that are supposed to control it. It also shows how countries are starting to push back when they believe their citizens’ rights are at risk. Whether or not DeepSeek will be removed from app stores in Germany remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the world is paying close attention, and the future of global AI tools will depend not only on how smart they are—but also on how safe they can keep the people who use them.
