Germany is considering restricting the Chinese AI startup DeepSeek from app stores like Apple and Google due to data privacy concerns. The German data protection authority is investigating DeepSeek for not meeting EU data protection standards.
Concerns arise from China's data access laws and DeepSeek's reported ties to Chinese military and intelligence services. The app stores have been warned to review and potentially block the app in Germany.
The U.S. and Taiwan have also raised security concerns, with proposed bans on government devices. DeepSeek, founded in 2023, has gained attention for its AI models, but its links to the Chinese government are causing international scrutiny. As of June 27, 2025, Germany has not made a final decision.