The Data Protection Commissioner in Berlin has formally asked Google and Apple to remove the DeepSeek AI application from their app stores, citing breaches of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Commissioner Meike Kamp argues that the application’s owner, Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence from Beijing, is illegally collecting data from German users and sending it to Chinese servers for processing. According to GDPR, particularly Article 46 (1), personal data gathered from individuals in the European Union must follow strict protection standards mandated by the regulation.
Given China’s relaxed data protection laws and frequent requests for data from private enterprises, it is unlikely that DeepSeek has implemented sufficient legal protections to meet EU requirements. The commissioner emphasized that the company does not have a physical presence in the European Union, yet its service is available in Germany through the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, featuring German-language descriptions, thus subjecting it to GDPR guidelines. DeepSeek has gained attention since its third-generation chatbot launch in January 2025, although serious cybersecurity issues have surfaced, impacting its reputation while still being popular in the global AI sector. It has achieved 50 million downloads on Google Play and numerous ratings on the Apple App Store.
On May 6, Kamp’s request for the voluntary removal of DeepSeek’s applications was overlooked by the company. Consequently, Berlin authorities invoked Article 16 of the Digital Services Act (DSA) to report illegal content to Apple and Google. Now, these technology giants must evaluate the commissioner’s report to consider the possible removal of DeepSeek AI from their platforms. Although the request originated from a state regulator, it involves cooperation with regulators from other regions and the Federal Network Agency. BleepingComputer has contacted Google, Apple, and DeepSeek for comments on the matter, with updates pending responses.
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