The Italian Data Protection Authority has stated that the measure will remain until ChatGPT complies with privacy regulations.
ChatGPT has been banned by Italy’s privacy regulator over worries about a recent data breach and the legality of using personal data to train the chatbot. The Italian Data Protection Authority characterized the action as a temporary measure until ChatGPT complies with privacy laws. The watchdog has implemented an immediate, temporary restriction on OpenAI, ChatGPT’s owner, from processing Italian users’ data.
On Friday, OpenAI announced the deactivation of ChatGPT in Italy and confirmed its adherence to the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). An OpenAI representative stated the company’s commitment to safeguarding people’s privacy, with limits on personal data usage in ChatGPT and similar systems.
OpenAI has stated that they strive to minimize personal data usage when training their AI systems like ChatGPT, aiming to teach their AI about the world rather than individuals’ private information. ChatGPT has gained immense popularity since its launch in November, thanks to its capacity to provide credible responses to queries and produce a variety of content, such as poems, academic essays, and document summaries, when prompted by users. The chatbot operates on a revolutionary AI system that uses a substantial amount of data collected from the internet.
The privacy regulator also appeared to mention ChatGPT’s tendency to provide inaccurate responses, noting that “the information provided by ChatGPT does not always align with factual circumstances, resulting in the processing of erroneous personal data.” Furthermore, the regulator highlighted the absence of age verification, which exposes children to inappropriate responses, even though the service is supposedly intended for users aged 13 and above, according to OpenAI’s terms of service.
The Italian watchdog demanded that OpenAI report back within 20 days regarding the measures it has taken to ensure users’ privacy or face a penalty of either €20m (£17.5m) or 4% of annual global revenue. OpenAI has yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter.
The development is unlikely to impact companies that already hold licenses with OpenAI to use the same technology powering ChatGPT.
