Germany’s data protection commissioner has called for tech giants Apple and Google to remove Chinese AI startup DeepSeek’s app from their app stores in Germany, citing data security concerns.
On June 27, Meike Kamp issued a statement alleging that DeepSeek was \”illegally transferring users’ personal data to China.\” She urged the companies to review the request promptly and decide whether to block the app, though no specific deadline was given.
Google confirmed it had received the notice and was evaluating it, while Apple has yet to respond.
In response to reports of bans or restrictions on DeepSeek in some countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokespersons have repeatedly voiced strong opposition. On February 6, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun emphasized that the Chinese government \”attaches great importance to and legally protects data privacy and security,\” adding that China has \”never and will never require enterprises or individuals to collect or store data illegally.\”
Similarly, on March 18, spokesperson Mao Ning highlighted China’s consistent stance against \”the over-generalization of national security concepts and the politicization of economic, trade, and technological issues,\” vowing to \”firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.\”
China has been actively enhancing data protection in the AI sector. In July 2023, the Cyberspace Administration of China, along with six other departments, issued the \”Interim Measures for the Management of Generative Artificial Intelligence Services.\” These measures include provisions focused on personal information protection, stipulating that AI service providers must \”legally protect users’ input information and usage records,\” avoid collecting unnecessary personal information, and prohibit the illegal provision of such information to others.
The Beijing Artificial Intelligence Data Training Base, the country’s first of its kind, addresses data security through a \”regulatory sandbox\” mechanism. This approach employs strict technical security measures for data storage, processing, and delivery, reducing potential security risks. The base has introduced over 100 high-quality datasets from sectors like medicine, government, and autonomous driving, assisting enterprises in conducting model training within legal frameworks.
China’s efforts, from policy formulation to enterprise-level implementation, have established a comprehensive system for data protection in the AI industry. As AI technology evolves globally, China continues to promote the coordinated development of AI and data security, setting an example for healthy industry growth.
