A German data protection official has accused Chinese AI company DeepSeek of unlawfully transferring user data to China.
Meike Kamp, Berlin’s commissioner for data protection, said DeepSeek failed to prove that users’ data was protected under EU law.
In a public statement, Kamp said the company gave no “convincing evidence” that it meets Europe’s strict data protection rules.
She warned that Chinese law allows authorities to access data held by companies like DeepSeek without strong legal safeguards.
“DeepSeek’s transfer of user data to China is unlawful,” Kamp said. “People in China lack enforceable rights under EU law.”
Kamp reported DeepSeek to Apple and Google, asking both companies to remove the app from their stores.
She also said DeepSeek has refused to either comply with EU law or remove the app from the German market.
Under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), data can only be sent outside the EU if proper safeguards exist.
DeepSeek became well-known earlier this year for launching a powerful AI model at a lower cost than major rivals.
However, concerns have grown over the platform’s security, with studies showing risks of bias and harmful content.
Italy has already banned DeepSeek from its app stores, citing similar data protection issues and national security concerns.
Chinese law allows intelligence agencies to access data from tech companies, raising fears across Europe.
Italian authorities said DeepSeek refused to cooperate with requests for more information about its data practices.
Now, Germany may follow Italy’s lead unless DeepSeek changes its handling of European users’ data.
