TECH NEWS – ChatGPT’s Chinese rival could be in big trouble in the European Union — or at least in Germany.

Berlin’s data protection commissioner has called on Google and Apple to remove the AI app from their stores. On June 27, Meike Kamp, Berlin’s Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, announced in a press release that her office is urging Google and Apple to remove the DeepSeek app after finding it violates the EU’s GDPR regulation. This follows a previous order from Kamp for DeepSeek to either remove the app in Germany or update its practices for German users’ data protection—something the Chinese company did not do.

“The transfer of user data by DeepSeek to China is unlawful. DeepSeek has not provided my office with convincing evidence that the data of German users is protected in China to the same extent as in the European Union. Chinese authorities have extensive access rights to personal data held by Chinese companies. Additionally, DeepSeek users in China lack the enforceable rights and effective legal remedies guaranteed in the European Union. I have therefore informed Google and Apple, the operators of the largest app platforms, of these violations and expect them to promptly review the situation and block the app. According to its website, DeepSeek processes extensive user data, including text entries, chat histories, uploaded files, location information, and details about devices and networks,” Kamp explained.

This does not mean DeepSeek will disappear from the App Store or Google Play overnight. Google and Apple must review Kamp’s request and decide on next steps. If the app is ultimately removed, it will likely only be blocked in Germany or the EU, but remain available elsewhere. Even so, millions of people may have to look for a new favorite AI app—DeepSeek already has over 50 million downloads on Google’s platform.

Regardless, the news may prompt some users to delete the app themselves. Kamp’s office is doubling down on efforts to either remove DeepSeek in Germany or ensure it complies with EU data protection standards—a move that is likely to concern privacy-conscious users everywhere.

Source: PCGamer, Datenschutz Berlin