The Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) application DeepSeek is set to be removed from app stores in Germany at the behest of the federal data protection officer, Louisa Specht-Riemenschneider, due to violations of European law.

"China does not have a level of data protection that corresponds to our General Data Protection Regulation," she told the newspapers of the Funke media group. Data transfers to China are "extremely critical," she said.

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Specht-Riemenschneider said she supports the initiative of the Berlin data protection officer and did not accept criticism that data protection is a hindrance to innovation.

"Data protection is a guarantee of trust. It can even be a competitive advantage," said Specht-Riemenschneider. "What hinders innovation is legal uncertainty in the market. And this also stems from a proliferation of digital legislation."

She said that digital legislation in Europe must be better coordinated, with clear rules including for data protection.

Authorities in South Korea, Italy, Taiwan and Australia have already taken action against DeepSeek.

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