01.07.2025
2 min
558
The Berlin data protection commissioner has formally requested Google and Apple to remove the DeepSeek AI app from their stores due to violations of the GDPR — the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation.
The statement says that the Chinese company Hangzhou DeepSeek AI, the developer of the app of the same name, illegally collects personal data of German users and transfers it to servers in China. Since it has no branch in Europe and the app is in German, the service automatically falls under the GDPR. China, according to commissioner Meike Kamp, has low data protection standards and a history of excessive requests for access to personal information. DeepSeek refused to voluntarily remove the app from the stores back on May 6, 2025, so the regulator used Article 16 of the Digital Services Act (DSA) to formally request the platforms.
DeepSeek AI gained popularity in January 2025 after the release of the third version of its chatbot, which impressed with its power. However, the platform was quickly accused of dangerous cyber practices, despite the fact that it remained popular worldwide. The application has 50 million downloads on Google Play and thousands of reviews on the App Store. Although the initiative comes from the state commissioner, it is coordinated with regulators from Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Bremen and the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur).
This case highlights how seriously EU countries take the protection of their citizens’ personal data, especially when it comes to companies with low levels of transparency. The further decision is left to Google and Apple, who must evaluate the regulator’s request. In the event of a favorable decision, DeepSeek AI may disappear from the European market in the near future.
