Germany Moves to Ban DeepSeek Over AI Privacy Concerns and Data Transfers to China

Germany’s data protection authorities have escalated privacy concerns surrounding DeepSeek by formally requesting that Apple and Google block the app from their German app stores. The move comes amid growing scrutiny across Europe over how foreign AI platforms handle sensitive user data. 

DeepSeek’s alleged transfer of user data to China constitutes an unlawful practice under EU privacy regulations. “DeepSeek’s transfer of user data to China is unlawful,” Kamp stated in a public announcement on June 27, 2025. Her office reported the app to Apple and Google as “illegal content” under the EU’s Digital Services Act. 

This isn’t the first European government action against the AI chatbot. Italy banned DeepSeek from official mobile app stores in January 2025, citing similar concerns over user data exposure in the platform’s privacy practices. 

• Germany has formally requested Apple and Google to block DeepSeek from local app stores. 

• DeepSeek is accused of unlawfully transferring personal data to China, violating European privacy laws. 

• Italy enforced a similar ban earlier this year, signaling a trend of EU crackdowns on AI apps with opaque data flows. 

As Agentic AI continues to evolve, regulatory scrutiny is intensifying—especially for non-EU developers. The DeepSeek case illustrates the growing tension between innovation and data sovereignty. Particularly as AI agents become more embedded in user applications and decision-making systems. 

This development also highlights broader concerns around cross-border data governance as governments evaluate the compliance of AI tools with regional privacy standards like the GDPR. With global adoption of AI agents accelerating, the regulatory landscape is poising to become a major factor shaping market access. 

 

Source: 

https://www.techradar.com/computing/cyber-security/deepseek-faces-ban-in-germany-as-privacy-watchdog-reports-the-app-to-google-and-apple-as-illegal-content