Tech & Privacy - I Week of February 2025
By Claudia Giulia Ferrauto
This past week has been packed with major developments in AI, tech, and privacy. Italy’s data protection authority has blocked the Chinese AI model DeepSeek over privacy concerns, shaking up the regulatory landscape in Europe. Meanwhile, markets reacted sharply to China’s growing AI competition, with major U.S. tech stocks taking a hit. The U.S. government is also making moves, launching a secure version of ChatGPT for federal agencies. On a different front, Donald and Melania Trump jumped into the crypto world with their own MemeCoins, sparking both excitement and volatility. And finally, the MIT Sloan Review outlined five key AI trends set to shape 2025.
Here’s a closer look at the biggest stories of the week:
1. Italian Privacy Authority Blocks DeepSeek
Italy’s data protection authority, the Garante per la Protezione dei Dati Personali, has blocked the use of DeepSeek, an AI application developed by a Chinese startup. The decision stems from concerns over the app’s handling of personal data, which was found to be non-compliant with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Specifically, DeepSeek claimed it was not subject to EU privacy laws, raising red flags about how it collects, stores, and processes user data.
Despite DeepSeek’s popularity—it even surpassed ChatGPT in Apple’s U.S. App Store—the Italian watchdog found the company’s responses insufficient, leading to an immediate ban within the country. Other European regulators, including those in Ireland and France, are also investigating DeepSeek’s data practices.
This move highlights Europe’s increasing scrutiny of AI governance and privacy standards, as authorities strive to balance innovation with data protection.
Sources: Reuters:Italy’s privacy watchdog blocks DeepSeek AI, AP News:Italian regulators halt Chinese AI app DeepSeek, The Record:DeepSeek AI under investigation in Europe
2. DeepSeek’s Market Impact: A Challenge to U.S. Big Tech
DeepSeek’s entry into the global AI market has sent shockwaves through the tech industry, particularly among major U.S. companies. Nvidia, a leader in AI chip manufacturing, saw its market capitalization drop by $600 billion despite JPMorgan’s forecast of rising demand for its chips due to DeepSeek’s computational complexity.
Meanwhile, firms like Broadcom, Marvell Technology, and Micron Technology could benefit from the innovation DeepSeek brings, whereas Intel may experience a decline in demand for its server processors. Tech giants such as Meta, Amazon, and Alphabet are expected to see growth driven by AI advancements and cost efficiencies.
Former President Donald Trump called DeepSeek’s launch a “wake-up call” for the U.S. tech industry, emphasizing the need for America to stay competitive in artificial intelligence.
These developments underscore the intensifying AI race and the urgency for U.S. companies to adapt to rapidly shifting market dynamics.
Sources: Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-30/deepseek-s-impact-on-us-tech-stocks, TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/30/deepseek-challenges-us-tech-giants, Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/technology/deepseek-shakes-up-us-tech-market-2025-01-30/
3. ChatGPT Gov: The U.S. Government’s AI Adoption
The U.S. government has announced the launch of ChatGPT Gov, a secure and protected version of ChatGPT designed for federal agencies. The initiative aims to harness AI to improve administrative efficiency, optimize information management, and enhance national security.
Unlike commercial versions of ChatGPT, this government-specific model is built with advanced security standards to safeguard sensitive data. Agencies such as the Department of Defense and the Department of Health have already begun testing the system’s potential.
At the same time, U.S. authorities have explicitly banned the use of DeepSeek within military and national security institutions due to cybersecurity concerns and fears over potential data collection by the Chinese government.
This move reflects the U.S. administration’s growing focus on AI governance, seeking to balance innovation with national security.
Sources: The Verge: U.S. government launches ChatGPT Gov, NBC News: Federal agencies adopt AI solutions, Government Tech: ChatGPT Gov and AI in national security
4. Trump and Melania’s MemeCoin: A New Player in Crypto
Former President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump recently launched two cryptocurrencies, $TRUMP and $MELANIA, attracting significant attention in the crypto market. While the tokens initially surged in value, they later experienced over a 50% drop from their weekend peaks, according to Forbes.
The launch comes at a time of increasing political focus on digital currencies. On January 23, Trump signed an executive order establishing a “Digital Asset Markets Working Group”, tasked with exploring, among other things, the creation of a “national strategic reserve of digital assets.”
These moves signal a shift in the U.S. approach to cryptocurrency, suggesting greater openness compared to previous administrations. However, concerns remain about market volatility and investor risks.
Sources: Forbes: Trump and Melania Meme Coins Down 50% Since Weekend Peak; Wired Italia: Criptovalute, Trump sta già mantenendo le promesse
For an animated explanation of the $TRUMP and $MELANIA tokens, watch the video here:🔗 Watch the video
5. AI Predictions for 2025
According to a recent MIT Sloan Management Review article, five key trends will shape the future of AI and data science in 2025:
1. Agent AI: Autonomous AI systems will become more prevalent, performing tasks without direct human supervision.
2. Unstructured Data Management: Organizations will increasingly focus on analyzing and interpreting unstructured data—such as text and images—to extract valuable insights.
3. Generative AI: AI-generated content, including text, images, and music, will continue to expand, opening new opportunities across industries.
4. AI Ethics and Regulation: Ethical concerns and the need for proper AI regulations will become central to public debate and corporate strategies.
5. AI Integration in Business Operations: Companies will invest in embedding AI into their operational processes to improve efficiency and gain competitive advantages.
These trends reflect AI’s growing maturity and its far-reaching impact across industries.
Source: MIT Sloan Management Review – Five Trends in AI and Data Science for 2025
Disclaimer:
After identifying key events and their short- and long-term impact, I structured the analysis, selecting what to highlight and which sources to cite. This resulted in four versions: a full-length piece in Italian, an adapted (not literal) English version, and a more concise edition in both languages, published by the Istituto Bruno Leoni. To refine the text, I used an AI editor to catch typos and errors, always under my supervision.