Germany demands Apple, Google ban China’s DeepSeek AI over data privacy fears

07/01/2025 / By Ava Grace

Germany is pressuring Apple and Google to remove the Chinese AI app DeepSeek from their stores, citing GDPR violations and illegal data transfers to China.
DeepSeek’s privacy policy admits storing user data (queries, files) in China, conflicting with EU data protection laws, which require strict safeguards for data leaving the bloc.
Italy has already banned DeepSeek, while the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain are investigating. This reflects broader distrust of Chinese tech firms, which must comply with Beijing’s surveillance laws.
Under China’s 2017 Intelligence Law, companies must share data with authorities, raising fears that DeepSeek could enable espionage, prompting EU action.
Apple and Google must choose between complying with EU regulators (risking DeepSeek’s removal) or defying GDPR, potentially facing fines. This could set a precedent for banning other Chinese apps.

Germany is pressuring Apple and Google to remove the Chinese artificial intelligence app DeepSeek from their app stores, citing serious concerns over user privacy violations.

Berlin’s data protection commissioner, Meike Kamp, alleges that DeepSeek illegally transfers personal data to China, bypassing strict European Union privacy laws. This move follows similar crackdowns in Italy and growing scrutiny across the West over Chinese tech firms’ ties to Beijing. The escalating conflict highlights deepening tensions between democratic nations and China’s state-influenced tech sector.

DeepSeek, an AI chatbot developed in China, gained attention earlier this year for offering advanced AI capabilities at a lower cost than Western competitors. However, European regulators now warn that the app poses significant risks to user privacy. Under Chinese law, companies must share data with government authorities upon request – meaning sensitive information from European users could end up in the hands of Chinese intelligence agencies. (Related: Chinese AI startup DeepSeek faces cyberattack amid U.S. tech stock turmoil.)

Germany’s demand is rooted in the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which prohibits companies from transferring personal data outside the bloc unless strict safeguards are in place. Kamp’s office claims DeepSeek failed to prove it meets these standards, leaving German users vulnerable.

A pattern of Chinese tech scrutiny

This is not the first time a Chinese app has faced backlash in the West. TikTok, owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, has been under fire for years over data security concerns. The U.S. nearly banned the app under the Trump administration and recently passed legislation forcing ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations or face a shutdown.

Similarly, Italy banned DeepSeek in January, and the Netherlands has restricted its use on government devices. Belgium and Spain are also investigating potential threats. The growing resistance signals a broader distrust of Chinese tech firms, which are legally obligated to comply with Beijing’s surveillance demands.

DeepSeek’s own privacy policy admits that user data – including search queries and uploaded files – is stored on servers in China. This directly conflicts with GDPR rules, which require companies to ensure that data transferred outside the EU receives equivalent protection.

Kamp’s office gave DeepSeek an ultimatum in May: comply with EU law or leave the German market. The company has refused to act, prompting Germany to escalate the matter to Apple and Google. If the tech giants comply, DeepSeek could vanish from German app stores within weeks.

The national security angle

Beyond privacy, Western officials fear Chinese AI apps could be used for espionage. China’s 2017 National Intelligence Law mandates that all companies assist state security agencies when requested. This means any data collected by DeepSeek could theoretically be accessed by Chinese authorities, raising alarms in Europe and the U.S.

Italy’s ban was explicitly tied to national security concerns, with regulators accusing DeepSeek of refusing to cooperate with investigations. Germany’s latest move suggests a coordinated EU effort to push back against Chinese digital influence.

Apple and Google now face a critical decision. If they remove DeepSeek, it could set a precedent for banning other Chinese apps over data security fears. However, if they resist, they risk fines and legal battles with EU regulators.

Meanwhile, DeepSeek’s defiance highlights a growing divide between China’s tech ambitions and Western regulatory frameworks. As AI becomes more powerful, the battle over data sovereignty will only intensify.

Germany’s crackdown on DeepSeek is part of a larger struggle between democratic nations and China’s state-backed tech expansion. With privacy laws tightening and security fears mounting, Western governments are no longer willing to gamble with user data. If Apple and Google comply, DeepSeek could be the first of many Chinese AI apps forced out of Europe, marking a pivotal moment in the global tech war.

Watch and learn why Deepseek AI is a lie.

This video is from Neroke-5 at Brighteon.com.