Germany Asks Apple, Google To Take Down ChatGPT-Rival DeepSeek: Here's Why

A top data protection official in Berlin has raised serious concerns about the Chinese AI chatbot app, DeepSeek, and is calling on Apple and Google to remove it from their app stores in Germany, TechCrunch reported. What’s the issue? Based on the report, the ChatGPT-rival allegedly sends user data to China without proper safeguards in place, which violates strict European privacy laws.

Meike Kamp, Berlin’s Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, says her office looked into the app and found that DeepSeek couldn’t prove it protects user data according to EU standards. She claims the company failed to meet legal requirements for transferring personal data outside the European Union.

What’s the Problem with DeepSeek?

Like many AI-powered apps, DeepSeek collects user information to work. But since it’s based in China, there are concerns that Chinese authorities could access this data. According to Kamp, Chinese companies are subject to government rules that allow broad access to private information.

The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is very clear: any company collecting data from EU citizens must either store it within the EU or prove that it’s equally protected if sent abroad. So far, Kamp says DeepSeek hasn’t shown it can meet those requirements.

It must be noted that this isn’t the first time when European regulators took action on DeepSeek. Earlier this year, Italy banned the app from local app stores, citing similar privacy violations.

For now, Apple and Google have been informed and are expected to review the request. Whether they act remains to be seen. As of now, neither company has responded publicly. However, if Apple and Google decide to remove the app from their stores across the EU, DeepSeek could lose access to millions of users in the region.