"DeepSeek faces ban from Apple, Google app stores in Germany", June 27, 2025

Germany's data protection commissioner has asked Apple (AAPL.O), and Google (GOOGL.O), to remove Chinese AI startup DeepSeek from their app stores in the country due to concerns about data protection, following a similar crackdown elsewhere.

Commissioner Meike Kamp said in a statement... that she had made the request because DeepSeek illegally transfers users' personal data to China.

The two U.S. tech giants must now review the request promptly and decide whether to block the app in Germany, she added, though her office has not set a precise timeframe.

Google said it had received the notice and was reviewing it.

DeepSeek did not respond to a request for comment.

Apple was not immediately available for comment.

According to its own privacy policy, DeepSeek stores numerous pieces of personal data, such as requests to its AI programme or uploaded files, on computers in China.

"DeepSeek has not been able to provide my agency with convincing evidence that German users' data is protected in China to a level equivalent to that in the European Union," Kamp said.

...

The commissioner said she took the decision after asking DeepSeek... to meet the requirements for non-EU data transfers or else voluntarily withdraw its app. DeepSeek did not comply with this request, she added.