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 Images
One of Germany’s data protection 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 protection 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.
The company also has its own global chatbot AI app, which has been downloaded millions of times, garnering scrutiny.
If the German case against DeepSeek progresses, 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 email. There are a few steps before this would become reality, however.
ordered DeepSeek to block its app in the country. Meanwhile, Irish authorities in January asked DeepSeek for information on its data processing.
