Germany tells Apple to remove DeepSeek from the App Store

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DeepSeek has been declared by German regulators to contain illegal content because of its security issues, and the local government wants it removed from the App Store and Google Play Store.

Blue whale logo with the word 'deepseek' in lowercase, featuring a stylized whale shape in the background.
DeepSeek is China's equivalent of ChatGPT



DeepSeek is the Chinese generative AI app that jumped to the top of the US App Store, was famously developed for a fraction of what OpenAI spent on ChatGPT, and has even been politely praised by Tim Cook. However, it also comes with severe security issues, and this is what has prompted Germany's decision.

According to Reuters, Germany's data protection commissioner Meike Kamp has asked Apple and Google to remove it after DeepSeek failed to meet requested security standards. She asked DeepSeek in May 2025 to meet requirements, or to voluntarily withdraw its app, and it did neither.

"DeepSeek has not been able to provide my agency with convincing evidence that German users' data is protected in China to a level equivalent to that in the European Union," said Kamp. "Chinese authorities have far-reaching access rights to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies."

Germany's move follows Italy's having it removed from App Stores early in 2025, while the Netherlands has banned it on government devices. DeepSeek is now reportedly aiding China's military and intelligence operations, and the US is looking to ban executive agencies from using any AI models developer in China.

In February 2025, security firm NowSecure claimed to have proof that DeepSeek's iOS app was sending data to Chinese-owned services. It noted that the Android version was even less secure.

While neither Apple nor Google have commented, the fact that both companies complied with Italy's request to remove the app means they will surely do the same for Germany.



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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 8
    MassiveAttackmassiveattack Posts: 115member
    As other Western apps are forbidden in China, I am with Germany. 
    Not only security concerns, but also fair game grounds should be granted in China. 
    williamlondondanoxmr moexyzzy-xxx
     1Like 3Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 2 of 8
    danoxdanox Posts: 3,882member
    Hiding under a rock isn’t gonna make nuclear power or rare earths go away Germany, nor is it going to help you keep up with the United States or China when it comes to tech.
    neoncatxyzzy-xxxtiredskillsprof
     0Likes 4Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 3 of 8
    pianoman1962pianoman1962 Posts: 19member
    Arrogant Apple really think they are so all-powerful they can just ignore the request/demand? Perhaps criminal charges and maybe Cook spending some time behind bars as a result would change his tune.
    williamlondonjellybelly
     0Likes 2Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 4 of 8
    mentorsemblemmentorsemblem Posts: 5member
    When you repeat "user data" a million times, it completely loses its original meaning. Most users don’t actually care about data at all. Why should some unelected guy in a suit be the one making decisions for them?
    williamlondon
     0Likes 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 5 of 8
    williamlondonwilliamlondon Posts: 1,546member
    pianoman1962 said:
    Arrogant Apple really think they are so all-powerful they can just ignore the request/demand? Perhaps criminal charges and maybe Cook spending some time behind bars as a result would change his tune.
    Oh good god what a childish thing to say.
    jellybelly
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 6 of 8
    chadbagchadbag Posts: 2,032member
    pianoman1962 said:
    Arrogant Apple really think they are so all-powerful they can just ignore the request/demand? Perhaps criminal charges and maybe Cook spending some time behind bars as a result would change his tune.
    What’cha talkin’ about?   Did the article say Apple was refusing?  
    tiredskills
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 7 of 8
    sphericspheric Posts: 2,800member
    danox said:
    Hiding under a rock isn’t gonna make nuclear power or rare earths go away Germany, nor is it going to help you keep up with the United States or China when it comes to tech.
    Wait, didn’t Tr*mp have TikTok banned in the United States? 

    Repeatedly? 

    I mean, TACO means TikTok in the U.S. is now on their what — fifth? 90-day reprieve, but still… 

    Other countries just actually don’t chicken out all the time, is the only difference. 
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 8 of 8
    sphericspheric Posts: 2,800member
    mentorsemblem said:
    When you repeat "user data" a million times, it completely loses its original meaning. Most users don’t actually care about data at all. Why should some unelected guy in a suit be the one making decisions for them?
    Welcome to Europe, where some things still have meaning. 
    muthuk_vanalingam
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
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