Italy Bans DeepSeek AI R1

Italy's data protection authority, the Garante, blocked access to the Chinese AI app DeepSeek due to concerns about its data handling practices and lack of transparency. DeepSeek, a popular chatbot app, claimed it wasn't subject to European privacy laws, a claim the Garante rejected. The ban sparked a significant market selloff and raised broader concerns about data privacy and AI regulation, including investigations in the US regarding potential intellectual property theft and national security risks. The incident highlights the growing tension between technological innovation and data protection in a globalized world.