Germany tells Apple, Google to block DeepSeek as the Chinese AI app faces rising pressure in Europe

Berlin's data tection commissioner Meike Kamp said that DeepSeek's transfer of German user data to China is "unlawful," under EU data tection rules

The data authority asked Apple and Google to carry out a "timely review" whether to ban the app or not from their respective app stores

Action in Germany could lead to a European Union-wide ban, one lawyer said

In this photo illustration, the DeepSeek logo is seen displayed on a smartphone screen and in the background, the flag of the European Union

Thomas Fuller | Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty ImagesOne of Germany's data tection watchdogs on Friday said DeepSeek's app illegally sends user data to China and asked Google and Apple to consider blocking the artificial intelligence service

Berlin's data tection commissioner Meike Kamp said in a statement that DeepSeek's transfer of German user data to China is "unlawful. " There is not a readily available way to get in touch with DeepSeek

CNBC has reached out to DeepSeek's privacy team

Chinese firm DeepSeek made waves this year when it launched an AI model that it claimed was created at a fraction of the cost of competitors, using less advanced Nvidia chips

If the German case against DeepSeek gresses, it could lead to a European Union-wide ban for the app, some experts say. "It is certainly possible that this incident could lead to an EU-wide ban because the rules that apply in Germany are the same elsewhere in the EU and also in the UK," Matt Holman, specialist AI and data lawyer at Cripps, told CNBC by

There are a few steps before this would become reality, however

What is Germany's issue with DeepSeek. "DeepSeek has not been able to convincingly demonstrate to my authority that the data of German users is tected in China at a level equivalent to that of the European Union," Germany's Kamp said, according to a CNBC translation. "Chinese authorities have extensive access rights to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies. "Under the European Union's General Data tection Regulation — the bloc's huge data tection law — companies are hibited from sending data outside the region unless specific safeguards are in place at the countries of arrival

Those safeguards must meet GDPR requirements in Europe

In short, the Berlin data tection commissioner is concerned that Chinese authorities could access German user data sent by DeepSeek to China

What are the next steps

The Berlin data watchdog on Friday said it had informed Apple and Google of DeepSeek's alleged violations and expects the U. giants to carry out a "timely review" whether to ban the app or not from their respective app stores

It's un if Google and Apple will comply

CNBC has reached out to both companies for

Cripps' Holman said that while and EU-wide ban is possible, there needs to be consensus among the bloc's regulators first that this would be an appriate step

If Apple and Google remove DeepSeek from their app stores, this would effectively amount to an EU-wide ban, Holman said. "The implications for Deepseek could be, unsurprisingly, quite stark

Access to German citizens' data will be curtailed

In short order this could expand to the remainder of the EU if other national regulators suits meaning EU — and potentially UK — will be curtailed if Apple and Google disables the app," Holman said

This is not DeepSeek's first run-in with regulators in Europe

Italian data tection authorities in February ordered DeepSeek to block its app in the country

Meanwhile, Irish authorities in January asked DeepSeek for information on its data cessing.