Hours after Italian authorities requested information from DeepSeek about how the company handles user data, the Chinese AI startup’s app is no longer available in Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store.
The app has claimed the top spot in the download charts in multiple countries, including in the U.S. where it is at the first position of most downloaded apps on both the App Store and Play Store.
A consumer coalition called Euroconsumers filed a complaint with the Italian DPA in relation to DeepSeek’s personal data handling practices. The authorities said today that they wrote to DeepSeek to get the information, with a reply deadline of 20 days.
The key worry is that, according to DeepSeek’s privacy policy, it stores information in servers located in China.
“Where we transfer any personal information out of the country where you live, including for one or more of the purposes as set out in this Policy, we will do so in accordance with the requirements of applicable data protection laws,” the policy reads.
While the Italian DPA was the first authority to take a formal note of DeepSeek’s privacy policy, other watchdogs in Europe have stated that all services will need to respect the region’s AI and data protection rules without explicitly mentioning DeepSeek.
Apple and Google didn’t immediately comment on the story.
