Germany's data protection commissioner has asked Apple and Google to remove Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek from their app stores, citing concerns that the company illegally transfers users' personal data to China.

Meike Kamp, the data protection commissioner, said in a statement on Friday that she had made the request because DeepSeek transfers German users' data to China without adequate protection.

"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 voluntarily withdraw its app. DeepSeek did not comply with this request, she said.

Under the EU's General Data Protection Regulation, companies are prohibited from sending data outside the region unless specific safeguards are in place in the countries where the data is sent.

Apple and Google must now review the request promptly and decide whether to block the app in Germany, though Kamp's office has not set a precise timeframe. Google said it had received the notice and was reviewing it. Apple was not immediately available for comment, whilst DeepSeek did not respond to a request for comment.

According to its own privacy policy, DeepSeek stores numerous pieces of personal data, such as requests to its AI programme or uploaded files, on computers in China.

DeepSeek made headlines in January with claims that it had developed an AI model to rival those from US 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 DeepSeek from app stores earlier this year, citing a lack of information on its use of personal data, whilst the Netherlands has banned it on government devices. Belgium has recommended government officials not to use DeepSeek, with a government spokesperson saying "further analyses are underway to evaluate the approach to be followed."

In Spain, the consumer rights group OCU asked the government's data protection agency in February to investigate threats likely posed by DeepSeek, though no ban has come into force.

The British government said "the use of DeepSeek remains a personal choice for members of the public," adding that "we continue to monitor any national security threats to UK citizens and their data from all sources. If evidence of threats arises, we will not hesitate to take the appropriate steps to protect our national security."

US lawmakers plan to introduce a bill that would ban US executive agencies from using any AI models developed in China.

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