🇩🇪 Germany Requests DeepSeek Removal from App Stores
-
What happened today (June 27, 2025): Germany’s Federal Data Protection Commissioner, Meike Kamp, officially asked Apple and Google to remove the Chinese AI app DeepSeek from their app stores in Germany. The request follows concerns about unlawful data transfers from German users to servers in China
-
Why the ban? Kamp stated that DeepSeek has not provided compelling evidence that German users’ data are protected in China to standards equivalent to those required under EU law. She added that “Chinese authorities have far‑reaching access rights to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies”
-
Timeline: In May 2025, the regulator previously gave DeepSeek the opportunity to either comply with EU data transfer requirements or withdraw voluntarily. The company failed to respond or comply, prompting today’s formal removal request
🌍 Broader Global Scrutiny
-
Italy already removed DeepSeek from its app stores in January 2025, citing privacy and transparency concerns
-
The Netherlands has banned DeepSeek from all government devices
-
Australia, South Korea, Taiwan, the U.S. Navy, NASA, Texas, New York State, and other government entities have either limited or blocked the app over security and data-handling worries
🔍 What’s Next?
-
Apple and Google now must evaluate the Germany regulator’s request. A decision to block access to DeepSeek in the country would follow.
-
If the app stays out of compliance, we could see further EU-wide restrictions or even a continent-wide ban, based on action in Germany .
🧩 Summary Snapshot
| Key Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Initiating Body | Germany’s Data Protection Commissioner, Meike Kamp |
| Core Concern | Unlawful transfer of German user data to China without EU-compliant safeguards |
| Other Affected Areas | Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, Taiwan, U.S. agencies |
| Immediate Impact | Potential removal of DeepSeek from app stores in Germany; Apple/Google to decide soon |