Germany Prohibits China’s DeepSeek App Amid Concerns Over National Security Threats

DeepSeek has been classified by German regulators as containing illegal content due to significant security concerns, prompting local authorities to seek its removal from both the App Store and Google Play Store. This generative AI application, developed in China, initially gained popularity in the US App Store and was completed at a fraction of the cost incurred by OpenAI for ChatGPT. Furthermore, it has received acknowledgment from industry leaders, including some mild praise from Tim Cook. However, DeepSeek’s appeal has been overshadowed by serious security vulnerabilities that have led to Germany’s decisive action.

According to reports, Germany’s data protection commissioner, Meike Kamp, has formally requested Apple and Google to remove the app after DeepSeek failed to comply with necessary security protocols. In May 2025, Kamp had asked the app’s developers to either address the security concerns or to voluntarily remove the application, yet neither option was pursued. Kamp emphasized the lack of adequate security for user data, stating, “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.” She further noted the extensive access rights that Chinese authorities have to personal data held by companies within their jurisdiction.

This development in Germany follows Italy’s earlier decision to have the app removed from app stores in early 2025, while the Netherlands has prohibited its use on government devices. Reports have emerged suggesting that DeepSeek may be involved in supporting China’s military and intelligence efforts, leading the US to explore a ban on the use of any AI models developed in China by executive agencies. In February 2025, the security firm NowSecure released findings indicating that DeepSeek’s iOS app was transmitting unencrypted data to Chinese servers, raising further security alarms, with the Android version being reported as even less secure. While Apple and Google have not officially commented on the situation, their past compliance with Italy’s removal request indicates a likelihood of adherence to Germany’s demands as well.