Germany’s data protection authority has formally requested Apple and Google to expel Chinese AI startup DeepSeek from their app stores, citing serious breaches of EU data transfer laws and privacy guarantees. Commissioner Meike Kamp stated that DeepSeek routinely transmits German users’ personal data, including AI queries and uploaded documents, to servers located in China, and has failed to provide evidence that such data enjoys protections comparable with EU standards. After issuing a request in May for compliance or voluntary withdrawal, DeepSeek remained silent, prompting the current demand for removal.
This move follows similar bans enacted across Europe: Italy has already eliminated DeepSeek from its app stores, the Netherlands has barred it on government-issued devices, and Belgium, Spain, Taiwan and South Korea have instituted restrictions or official warnings against its use. DeepSeek’s rapid rise earlier this year, claiming to rival Western generative models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, also attracted scrutiny over its involvement in China’s military and intelligence initiatives.
In the broader trend of global tech regulation, DeepSeek represents a flashpoint in the intersection of AI innovation, national security and data sovereignty. While the app’s capability to compete on cost and performance has impressed some analysts, its compliance gaps have alarmed regulators across multiple jurisdictions. The potential removal from German app platforms could significantly erode DeepSeek’s reach in Europe and impact its broader legitimacy.
Looking ahead, Apple and Google must weigh the regulatory demands under EU law versus their global platform strategies. A refusal to act may expose them to legal jeopardy; compliance, however, could mark a precedent in limiting the spread of apps developed by firms operating outside EU-approved data frameworks. For policymakers and industry leaders, Germany’s action underscores the necessity of reconciling AI expansion with privacy safeguards and regulatory transparency.
As regulatory attention increasingly shifts toward the data practices of AI firms, especially those connected to state-supported technology, it is clear that compliance with regional data standards is becoming non-negotiable for global operations. The fate of DeepSeek in Germany may well mark a turning point in how AI platforms navigate divergent data regimes.
