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Germany says DeepSeek illegally transfers user data to

China

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Apple ( AAPL ) and Google must now review Germany's request

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Italy blocked DeepSeek app earlier this year

(Adds background, details throughout)

By Hakan Ersen

FRANKFURT, June 27 (Reuters) - Germany's data protection

commissioner has asked Apple ( AAPL ) and Google to

remove Chinese AI startup DeepSeek from their app stores in the

country due to concerns about data protection.

Commissioner Meike Kamp said in a statement on Friday that

she had made the request because DeepSeek illegally transfers

users' personal data to China.

The two U.S. tech giants must now review the request

promptly and decide whether to block the app in Germany, she

added.

DeepSeek did not respond to a request for comment. Apple ( AAPL ) and

Google were not immediately available for comment.

According to its own privacy policy, DeepSeek stores

numerous personal data, such as requests to its AI programme or

uploaded files, on computers in China.

"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," Kamp

said.

"Chinese authorities have far-reaching access rights to

personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese

companies," she added.

The commissioner said she took the decision after asking

DeepSeek in May to meet the requirements for non-EU data

transfers or else voluntarily withdraw its app. DeepSeek did not

comply with this request, she added.

DeepSeek shook the technology world in January with claims

that it had developed an AI model to rival those from U.S. firms

such as ChatGPT creator OpenAI at much lower cost.

However, it has come under scrutiny in the United States and

Europe for its data security policies.

Italy blocked it from app stores there earlier this year,

citing a lack of information on its use of personal data, while

the Netherlands has banned it on government devices.

U.S. lawmakers plan to introduce a bill that would ban U.S.

executive agencies from using any AI models developed in China.

Reuters exclusively reported this week that DeepSeek is

aiding China's military and intelligence operations.