The Italian regulator ordered a ban on ChatGPT due to alleged privacy violations. The National Data Protection Authority said it will immediately block and investigate OpenAI, the American company behind this popular artificial intelligence tool, in the processing of Italian users' data.
The order is temporary, i.e. it lasts until the company respects the EU law on the protection of personal data, the so-called GDPR. Calls are growing around the world to suspend the release of new versions of ChatGPT and to investigate OpenAI over a number of privacy, cybersecurity and deinformaceme. After all, Elon Musk and dozens of artificial intelligence experts this week called for a freeze on AI development. On March 30, consumer protection group BEUC also called on EU and national authorities, including data protection watchdogs, to properly investigate ChatGPT.
The authority said the company had no legal basis to justify "bulk collection and retention of personal data for the purpose of training ChatGPT's algorithms." It added that the company also processed the data inaccurately. The Italian authority mentions that ChatGPT's data security was also breached last week and user conversations and payment details of its users were exposed. He added that OpenAI does not verify the age of users and exposes "minors to completely inappropriate responses compared to their level of development and self-awareness."
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OpenAI has 20 days to communicate how it intends to bring ChatGPT into compliance with EU data protection rules or face a fine of up to 4% of its global revenue or €20 million. OpenAI's official statement on the case has not yet been issued. Italy is therefore the first European country to define itself against ChatGPT in this way. But the service is already banned in China, Russia and Iran.
