Apple, Google told DeepSeek is illegal in Germany

Germany’s privacy authorities have warned Apple and Google about DeepSeek, citing potential violations of EU regulations.

The Berlin data protection agency is concerned about how the app handles and transfers user data to China.

DeepSeek failed to comply with a May request to either remove the app from German app stores or improve data protection measures.

Berlin’s data protection commissioner, Meike Kamp, pointed out that DeepSeek users have no enforceable rights under Chinese law, unlike in the EU.

The agency cited the EU’s Digital Services Act, which requires platforms like Apple and Google to remove illegal content.

Kamp said fines could have been issued, but enforcing them in China would be difficult.

Apple declined to comment, while Google and DeepSeek did not respond.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ The EU’s Digital Services Act creates new enforcement powers targeting app stores

The German regulator’s action against DeepSeek represents a significant test case of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which shifts enforcement responsibility to platforms like Apple and Google.

This regulatory approach treats app stores as “gatekeepers” responsible for illegal content they distribute, creating a new pressure point for enforcement beyond directly targeting the app developers themselves 1.

Unlike previous approaches that focused primarily on app developers, the DSA allows regulators to hold platforms accountable for failing to remove problematic apps when notified, with potential fines of up to 6% of global annual revenue 2.

The German regulator’s strategy acknowledges the practical limitations of trying to enforce penalties against Chinese companies directly, instead leveraging the DSA to compel action from the multinational platform companies with significant EU presence 2.

2️⃣ DeepSeek highlights the growing tension between China’s AI ambitions and Western data protection standards

DeepSeek’s R1 model, launched in January 2025, represents China’s most significant AI challenge to Western dominance, achieving competitive performance while requiring only $5.6 million in training costs—a fraction of what competitors spend 3.