Removal of DeepSeek application from German app stores announced
The DeepSeek app, a Chinese AI product, has found itself under intense scrutiny due to data privacy and security concerns. The app's transmission of personal user data to China has triggered actions and warnings under European data protection regulations and broader global restrictions.
### European Data Protection Concerns
DeepSeek has been accused of violating the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by unlawfully transferring European users' personal data to China. German data protection authorities have expressed concerns that Chinese authorities have far-reaching access rights to data handled by Chinese companies, creating a legal conflict as users in China lack the enforceable rights and remedies guaranteed in the EU.
As a result, German data protection officials have asked Apple and Google to remove DeepSeek from their app stores within Germany. Italy had already banned the app earlier in 2025 for similar data protection concerns. Despite a privacy policy update in July 2025, concerns about data retention and transparency remain unresolved.
### National Security and Intelligence Risks
U.S. officials have accused DeepSeek of sharing user data and analytics with Beijing's military and intelligence services. The company is referenced in Chinese military procurement records and is believed to provide technological support to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) research institutions. This connection raises concerns that data collected by DeepSeek could be exploited for Chinese intelligence activities beyond routine data processing.
The Czech Republic banned DeepSeek for government use, citing unacceptable national security risks stemming from Chinese national laws that compel companies to cooperate with government intelligence. User data is stored not only in China but also in Russia, elevating espionage and counterintelligence concerns. Similar alerts and restrictions have been issued by countries including the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, South Korea, and India.
### Global Restrictions Context
These data protection and security issues are part of wider US-China tensions involving technology and trade. The US is advocating for legislation to prohibit AI models from China, Iran, Russia, or North Korea from government use, with DeepSeek singled out for bans.
European regulations strictly control cross-border data flows to non-EU countries that do not have adequate privacy protections, like China. DeepSeek's failure to comply with these norms means that the app risks enforcement actions or outright bans in the EU and allied countries due to potential misuse of data and lack of legal guarantees for user privacy.
In summary, DeepSeek's sharing of user data with Chinese military and intelligence entities has led to significant contraventions of European data protection laws (GDPR) and national security concerns. This has resulted in bans and removal requests in Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic, among others, reflecting a global pushback against AI applications perceived as threats to privacy and security due to their ties with the Chinese government and military intelligence apparatus.
DeepSeek'semployment policy, as well as its community policy, potentially violate the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) due to the transfer of European users' personal data to China, a move that could potentially threaten the confidentiality and security of financial data. The app's connections within the Chinese industry and its perceived support for artificial-intelligence research by Chinese military and intelligence services further exacerbate these concerns, leading to global restrictions and bans.
