Latest news with #MeikeKamp
Tom's Guide
03-07-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
DeepSeek faces yet another country-wide ban — here's what that means for you
Chinese AI app DeepSeek could be facing another ban, this time in Germany. Data protection official Meike Kamp has filed a formal request with both Apple and Google to remove DeepSeek from digital storefronts. Kamp, the Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, has accused the app of sending personal data to China, a violation of European Union law. In May, the official requested that DeepSeek comply with legal requirements for data transfer, remove the app themselves, or stop the data transfer. Kamp's requests were not responded to, leading to the report being filed to both Apple and Google. Here's what Kamp had to say (machine translated): 'The transfer of user data by DeepSeek to China is unlawful. DeepSeek has not been able to convincingly prove to my authority that data from German users: Inside China is protected at a level equivalent to that of the European Union. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Chinese authorities have extensive access rights to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies. In addition, DeepSeek users in China do not have enforceable rights and effective remedies guaranteed in the European Union. I have therefore informed Google and Apple, as operators of the largest app platforms, about the violations and expect a blocking to be checked as soon as possible.' It remains to be seen what steps Apple or Google will take (if any), but it's clear that each isn't afraid to respond. DeepSeek drew similar concerns from Italian and Irish watchdogs earlier this year, and was pulled from Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store in Italy, with customers being advised that the app was 'currently not available in the country or area you are in'. Other countries, while not immediately banning the use of Deepseek are wary of it. The British governemnt has said the use of Deepseek remains a personal choice for the public, but they do monitor all national security threats from any source. In recent days, Chinese search engine Baidu has announced its Ernie LLM will go open source, suggesting there are more models to come from the country yet. The Chinese AI model, which launched in late 2024, had huge ramifications for stock prices of US-based tech firms thanks to its rapid adoption and meteoric rise to prominence as a competitor to the likes of OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. 'Our office will launch an in-depth investigation to see if GDPR rules [European Union data protection regulations] are being respected,' said the head of the Italian data regulator, Pasquale Stanzione, back in January. According to Deepseek's own privacy policy, it stores numerous bits of personal data, such as requests to its AI system or uploaded files. All of this information is stored on computers in China. In our guide on how to opt out of data training, Deepseek stood out as the hardest AI model to get out of data usage. In recent days, Chinese search engine Baidu has announced its Ernie LLM will go open source, suggesting there are more models to come from the country yet.
Canada News.Net
01-07-2025
- Business
- Canada News.Net
German regulator urges DeepSeek app takedown on privacy grounds
FRANKFURT, Germany: Germany has become the latest country to challenge Chinese AI firm DeepSeek over its data practices, as pressure mounts across Europe and the United States over how the company handles personal information. This week, German data protection commissioner Meike Kamp formally asked Apple and Google to remove DeepSeek's app from their respective app stores in the country. The reason: concerns that user data is being transferred to China without adequate safeguards. "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 in a statement. "Chinese authorities have far-reaching access rights to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies." Kamp said she had asked the company in May to comply with EU data transfer requirements or withdraw its app voluntarily. Since DeepSeek failed to act, her office moved forward with the request to block it. Google confirmed it had received the notice and was reviewing the request. Apple did not immediately respond. DeepSeek also declined to comment. According to its own privacy policy, DeepSeek stores users' personal data — including uploaded files and AI interactions — on servers located in China. DeepSeek made headlines earlier this year with claims that its AI model could rival tools like ChatGPT at a significantly lower cost. However, the company has since come under scrutiny across multiple jurisdictions. Italy was the first EU country to block DeepSeek's app, citing insufficient transparency around data handling. The Netherlands banned it on government devices. Belgium has issued an advisory against its use by officials, while Spain's consumer group OCU has asked its national data agency to investigate. In the UK, the government has taken a hands-off approach so far. A spokesperson for the technology ministry said, "The use of DeepSeek remains a personal choice for members of the public," but added, "If evidence of threats arises, we will not hesitate to take the appropriate steps to protect our national security." In the U.S., lawmakers are preparing legislation to ban executive agencies from using any Chinese-developed AI tools. Meanwhile, Reuters reported this week that DeepSeek is also supporting China's military and intelligence activities, raising further alarms in Western capitals.
Tahawul Tech
01-07-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
German regulators call for a block on DeepSeek AI
German regulators have called for the removal of DeepSeek from Google and Apple app stores, due to growing concerns around the Chinese AI company's data protection practices. The country's data protection commissioner Meike Kamp issued a statement outlining her request, claiming DeepSeek was illegally transferring German users' personal data to China. Germany follows other countries in taking aim at DeepSeek, after the AI startup made waves in the industry at the start of 2025. Australia, Italy and Taiwan have all issued a block of some kind on the service, while numerous private companies have restricted access to the AI platform. US politicians also recently proposed a bill to block AI models from China being used by government agencies. The German data protection watchdog noted DeepSeek stores data including personal information and uploaded files on servers in its homeland China. Kamp argued DeepSeek's transfer of user data to China is unlawful and the company had not been able to convince her office that 'German users' data is protected to a level equivalent to that of the European Union'. She continued to state: 'Chinese authorities have far-reaching access to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies.' Kamp did not give Apple and Google a deadline, but the pair will now be required to review the request and decide whether to block the app. Source: Mobile World Live Image Credit: Stock Image/DeepSeek
Hans India
29-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Germany asks Apple, Google to ban Chinese AI app DeepSeek over privacy concerns
Germany's data protection commissioner has formally requested Apple and Google to remove Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek from their app stores, citing concerns over illegal transfer of user data to China. Meike Kamp, the country's commissioner for data protection, stated on Friday that DeepSeek failed to prove it safeguards German users' personal information at a level consistent with EU privacy standards. According to its own privacy policy, the company stores user queries and uploaded files on servers located in China. 'Chinese authorities have sweeping access rights to personal data held by Chinese companies,' said Kamp. She emphasized that DeepSeek had been given an opportunity in May to comply with EU data transfer regulations or voluntarily withdraw its app—neither of which it followed through on. In response, Google confirmed receipt of the notice and said it was reviewing the request. Apple has yet to comment. DeepSeek also did not respond to media inquiries. The move comes amid growing global scrutiny of DeepSeek, which made headlines in January by claiming to have developed a low-cost AI model competitive with ChatGPT. While the announcement stirred interest, regulators in the EU and U.S. have since raised red flags about its data handling. Earlier this year, Italy blocked DeepSeek from app stores due to insufficient transparency around personal data use. The Netherlands banned it on government devices, and Belgium advised officials to avoid the app pending further investigation. Spain's OCU consumer group has requested a national probe, while the UK government has called its use a personal choice but is monitoring potential security risks. Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers are preparing legislation that would bar federal agencies from using Chinese-developed AI, with a recent Reuters report alleging DeepSeek's involvement in Chinese military and intelligence operations. Germany's demand marks another blow to the Chinese firm's global credibility as governments become increasingly wary of foreign AI platforms and their data governance practices.
Indian Express
29-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
DeepSeek faces ban from Apple, Google app stores in Germany
Germany's data protection commissioner has asked Apple and Google to remove Chinese AI startup DeepSeek from their app stores in the country due to concerns about data protection, following a similar crackdown elsewhere. 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, though her office has not set a precise timeframe. Google said it had received the notice and was reviewing it. DeepSeek did not respond to a request for comment. Apple was not immediately available 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 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. Belgium has recommended government officials not to use DeepSeek. 'Further analyses are underway to evaluate the approach to be followed,' a government spokesperson said. 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.' 'We continue to monitor any national security threats to UK citizens and their data from all sources,' a spokesperson for Britain's technology ministry said. 'If evidence of threats arises, we will not hesitate to take the appropriate steps to protect our national security.' 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.
