Germany is cracking down on the Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, and things are heating up. On Friday, Germany’s top data protection commissioner, Meike Kamp, asked Apple and Google to remove DeepSeek from their app stores in the country. The reason? She says DeepSeek is illegally sending user data to China.
Let that sink in.
According to DeepSeek’s own privacy policy, the app stores personal data — like AI queries and uploaded files — on servers located in China. That’s a big red flag for EU regulators, where data protection rules are strict and privacy is taken seriously.
“DeepSeek has not been able to prove that German user data is safe in China,” Kamp said.
She added that the Chinese government has “far-reaching access rights” to personal data inside Chinese companies — which basically means user data could be accessed by Chinese authorities any time.
Not the First Warning
Back in May, Germany gave DeepSeek a clear warning: meet EU data transfer rules or pull your app voluntarily. DeepSeek didn’t comply. So now, the regulator wants it removed.
And Germany isn’t alone. Italy already blocked DeepSeek earlier this year. The Netherlands banned it on government devices. Even U.S. lawmakers are preparing to block Chinese AI models, including DeepSeek, from government use.
To make things worse, a Reuters report this week revealed that DeepSeek is allegedly helping China’s military and intelligence agencies. That takes the controversy to a whole new level.
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The Big AI Claims
Just a few months ago, DeepSeek grabbed headlines by saying it had built an AI model that could rival OpenAI’s ChatGPT — but at a fraction of the cost. That bold claim raised eyebrows in the tech world.
But now, it’s not DeepSeek’s AI skills in question. It’s their data ethics and national loyalty.
Germany’s move could be a major blow. Getting removed from both Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store would severely limit DeepSeek’s reach in Europe’s largest economy.
What’s Next for DeepSeek?
DeepSeek has not responded to Germany’s claims. Apple and Google have also stayed silent so far. But if the ban goes through, DeepSeek could be the first of many Chinese AI apps to face the EU’s strict data rules.
This is more than just one app. It’s about who controls your data, and who can see it. Germany is making a strong statement — and other countries might follow.
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