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.

Germany has told Apple and Google to remove Chinese AI app DeepSeek from their app stores, saying the company transfers users' data to China illegally.

The data authority asked Apple and Google to carry out a "timely review" about whether to ban the app or not form their respective app stores. Action in Germany could lead to a European Union-wide ban,