Germany’s data protection authority has asked Apple and Google to remove the Chinese AI app DeepSeek from their app stores in the country. Officials say the company has transferred German users’ personal data to China without proper safeguards, violating EU privacy rules.
Germany originally asked DeepSeek in May to prove it met European standards or voluntarily withdraw. The company did not respond. According to its privacy policy, DeepSeek stores a range of personal information—like AI chat requests and uploaded files—on servers in China. Regulators are concerned Chinese authorities may have access to this sensitive data.
This move by Germany adds to a global wave of action. Italy has already banned DeepSeek, the Netherlands has blocked its use on government devices, South Korea and Australia have barred official use, and U.S. lawmakers are considering restricting its use in federal agencies. The concern centers on privacy risks and possible links between DeepSeek and China’s military and intelligence services.
Apple and Google must now quickly review Germany’s request and decide whether to block the app. If they comply, DeepSeek could disappear from app stores in Germany—and possibly the entire EU. This case highlights growing international worries over user data, foreign AI tools, and national security in the digital age.