Germany urges Apple, Google to ban DeepSeek over data breach
Germany's data protection authority on Friday accused DeepSeek of illegally transferring user data to China and urged Google and Apple to consider restricting the AI application.Berlin's data protection commissioner, Meike Kamp, stated that the app's management of German user data contravenes privacy regulations.
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company, attracted attention earlier this year after unveiling a model that it asserted was developed at a significantly lower cost than competitors, utilizing less advanced Nvidia chips.
The company also has its own global chatbot AI application, which has been downloaded millions of times and is facing increasing scrutiny.
Experts indicate that if the case against DeepSeek progresses in Germany, it could lead to an EU-wide prohibition of the app.
"DeepSeek has not convincingly proven to my authority that German user data is safeguarded in China at a level comparable to that of the European Union," stated Kamp, according to a translation by CNBC. "Chinese authorities have substantial access rights to personal data within the influence of Chinese firms."
Under the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), companies are prohibited from transferring personal data outside the EU unless the receiving country offers adequate protections that align with EU standards.
Essentially, the Berlin data protection commissioner is worried that German user data sent to China by DeepSeek could be accessed by Chinese officials.
On Friday, the Berlin data protection authority informed Apple and Google of DeepSeek’s suspected violations and anticipates both companies will carry out a "timely review" to determine if the app should be deleted from their platforms.
It is still uncertain whether Google and Apple will take any measures.
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