Apple Inc. and Google’s Android platform have been formally warned by a leading German privacy regulator that the Chinese AI app DeepSeek, available on their app stores, contains illegal content due to concerns it exposes user data to Chinese authorities.
The warning follows DeepSeek’s failure to act on a May request to either withdraw the app from distribution in Germany or implement protective measures to safeguard local users’ data during transmission to China, according to Berlin data protection commissioner Meike Kamp.
“Chinese authorities have far-reaching rights to access personal data,” Kamp said. “DeepSeek users don’t have enforceable rights and effective legal remedies available to them in China, like they’re guaranteed in the European Union.”
Based in Hangzhou, DeepSeek made headlines in January with the release of its R1 large language model, claiming it could rival much larger U.S. systems at significantly lower costs.
With DeepSeek refusing to comply with earlier demands, Berlin’s data watchdog has now invoked a provision of the EU’s Digital Services Act, which compels digital platforms like Apple and Google to remove illegal content once notified.
Kamp stated that Apple and Google must now urgently assess the notice and determine their next steps for compliance. Although Kamp had the option to fine DeepSeek, she refrained, citing the impracticality of enforcing such penalties against a company based in China.
“We received the notice, and are reviewing it,” a Google spokesperson said via email.
Apple declined to comment. DeepSeek has yet to respond to requests for comment.
This move by Germany echoes a similar action taken by Italy’s privacy watchdog in January. Meanwhile, in the United States, authorities have determined that DeepSeek has supported Chinese military and intelligence operations and is expected to continue doing so, according to a U.S. official.
In response, lawmakers in Washington are working on bipartisan legislation that would prohibit federal agencies from using DeepSeek or similar AI tools developed in adversarial nations.
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