A German regulator warned Apple and Google on Friday that DeepSeek is transferring users’ data to China.
Meike Kamp, Berlin’s commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, wants the Big Tech companies to urgently consider blocking the Chinese AI app.
“DeepSeek’s transfer of user data to China is unlawful,” Ms. Kamp said in a statement, according to an English-language translation. “DeepSeek has not been able to convincingly demonstrate to my authority that German users’ data in China is protected to a level equivalent to that of the European Union.”
China’s policy of military-civil fusion forces cooperation between businesses and the communist authorities in Beijing.
Data collected by DeepSeek is stored with Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Co. at its registered address in China, according to DeepSeek’s privacy policy.
The policy said DeepSeek collects personal data, device and network personal data, user input, location data and payment data.
Ms. Kamp said DeepSeek’s data transfer is unlawful and users do not have enforceable rights in the EU, so Germany is requesting the Big Tech companies review the alleged violations swiftly. Neither Apple nor Google immediately responded to requests for comment on Friday.
Germany is not the first to fret about DeepSeek’s data practices. Italy’s regulator sought to block DeepSeek earlier this year, reportedly amid concerns about insufficient information on DeepSeek’s data collection efforts.
In the U.S., lawmakers have started looking for ways to keep Chinese AI systems away from the federal government. A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers in the House and Senate proposed legislation this week intending to prohibit the federal government’s use of Chinese AI, with limited exceptions.
DeepSeek is far from the only Chinese AI startup causing headaches in the West.
OpenAI is warning that a Chinese rival to DeepSeek, Zhipu, has made substantial progress as an alternative to OpenAI and its popular chatbot ChatGPT.
Zhipu is offering its services to state-owned firms in Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kenya, according to OpenAI.
“The goal is to lock Chinese systems and standards into emerging markets before U.S. or European rivals can, while showcasing a ’responsible, transparent and audit-ready’ Chinese AI alternative,” OpenAI said this week in a blog post. “Our analysts list concrete Zhipu AI initiatives with ASEAN, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Kenya and an unidentified Belt and Road country.”
The U.S. Commerce Department added Zhipu to its Entity List, which flags foreign groups for restrictions over national security concerns, in January just before President Trump took office.
