Germany says DeepSeek illegally sends data to China, urges Apple, Google to review app

A top German data protection watchdog has called for tech giants Apple and Google to consider removing the Chinese AI app DeepSeek from their platforms, alleging the service unlawfully transfers user data to China without adequate safeguards.

Meike Kamp, Berlin’s data protection commissioner, said Friday that DeepSeek’s data handling practices are “unlawful” under the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and that her office has asked Apple and Google to initiate a “timely review” of whether the app should remain available in their respective stores.

“DeepSeek has not been able to convincingly demonstrate to my authority that the data of German users is protected in China at a level equivalent to that of the European Union,” Kamp said in a statement, warning that Chinese authorities possess “extensive access rights” to personal data handled by companies under their jurisdiction.

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI firm that gained attention for building a large language model using less advanced Nvidia chips at a fraction of the cost of competitors, has not responded publicly to the allegations.

According to its own privacy policy, DeepSeek stores various types of personal data—including user requests and uploaded files—on servers located in China.

The Berlin commissioner’s move escalates ongoing scrutiny over DeepSeek’s operations in Europe.

The company’s global chatbot AI app has amassed millions of downloads, raising regulatory concerns over privacy compliance and cross-border data transfers.

Will a broader EU ban for DeepSeek follow?

Under GDPR rules, companies are barred from transferring personal data outside the EU unless the destination country ensures an equivalent level of protection — a bar that EU regulators say China does not meet.

If Germany’s findings are upheld by other EU data protection authorities, the case could lay the groundwork for a region-wide ban of the app.

That decision, however, would require consensus among national regulators.

Both Apple and Google have yet to comment on whether they will act on the regulator’s request.

This is not the first time DeepSeek has faced scrutiny.

In February, Italy’s data protection authority ordered the company to block access to its app within the country.

In January, Irish officials demanded more information about the company’s data processing practices.

Belgium has advised government officials to avoid using the platform, citing privacy concerns.

In Spain, the consumer rights group OCU requested in February that the country’s data protection agency investigate potential risks posed by DeepSeek, though no formal ban has been implemented.

Meanwhile, in the United States, lawmakers are preparing to introduce legislation that would prohibit executive agencies from using AI models developed in China, further signaling growing scrutiny of Chinese-developed AI tools in Western jurisdictions.

If the Berlin watchdog's warning leads to further enforcement actions or app store removals, DeepSeek could lose access to a major market.