German data protection official wants Apple, Google to remove DeepSeek from the country’s app stores

A German information safety official has reported Chinese language AI app DeepSeek to Apple and Google, saying the app transfers customers’ data to China illegally.

Meike Kamp, Berlin’s Commissioner for information safety and freedom of knowledge, instructed the businesses that DeepSeek didn’t present “convincing proof” that customers’ information was protected as required by EU legal guidelines.

“Chinese language authorities have far-reaching entry rights to non-public information throughout the sphere of affect of Chinese language corporations,” Kamp said, including that the 2 tech companies should now evaluation the report and resolve whether or not to take away the app.

Kamp mentioned that her workplace had requested DeepSeek to adjust to EU legal guidelines for transferring information outdoors the bloc or pull its app from the nation, however the Chinese language firm didn’t achieve this.

Italy earlier this yr banned DeepSeek from app shops within the nation, citing related information safety considerations.

Notably, two key particulars about DeepSeek that client privateness advocate teams within the EU highlighted are that the service is made in and operates out of China. Per its privacy policy, this consists of the knowledge and information that DeepSeek collects and shops, which can be housed in its dwelling nation.

Apple and Google didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

This story was corrected to make clear that Berlin’s information safety commissioner reported DeepSeek to the businesses.