ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot developed by OpenAI and backed by Microsoft, was temporarily banned in Italy by the country’s data protection authority, Garante. The authority accused the chatbot of breaching privacy rules and collecting and storing personal data without a legal basis. OpenAI took the chatbot offline in Italy after the ban.
OpenAI has since addressed the concerns raised by Garante, and the chatbot was reactivated in Italy. Garante had given OpenAI a deadline of Sunday to address its concerns about allowing the chatbot to operate again. In response, OpenAI provided a tool to verify users’ ages in Italy upon sign-up to address Garante’s accusation of failing to check the age of users.
OpenAI also provided greater visibility of its privacy policy and user content opt-out form. A new form was also provided for European Union (EU) users to exercise their right to object to the use of their personal data to train its models. The form requires people who want to opt out to provide detailed personal information, including evidence of data processing.
Garante has recognized OpenAI’s steps to combine technological progress with respect to people’s rights and hopes for continued compliance with European data protection regulations. However, Garante will continue its probe of ChatGPT and work with the special task force set up by the European Data Protection Board, which followed Garante’s interest.
Italy was the first Western European country to ban ChatGPT, but other countries have also shown interest in regulating it. European Union lawmakers have agreed on new rules that would force companies deploying generative AI tools, like ChatGPT, to disclose any copyrighted material used to develop their systems.
In conclusion, ChatGPT is now operational again in Italy after OpenAI addressed the concerns raised by Garante. OpenAI has provided tools to address Garante’s concerns, and the chatbot will continue to operate in compliance with European data protection regulations.
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