It’s no secret that OpenAI’s ChatGPT has been making waves since its launch, amassing over 100 million daily active users in just two months. However, it appears that Italians may soon lose access to the chatbot as the Italian Privacy Guarantor has ordered a ban on ChatGPT, alleging that the company is violating the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and failing to adequately protect children.
The Italian Privacy Guarantor’s concerns stem from the bulk collection of data OpenAI used to train ChatGPT. The regulator is also worried about the chatbot’s inaccurate results and the lack of age checks to prevent children from seeing inappropriate content. Although OpenAI claims ChatGPT is only suitable for users over the age of 13, the company has not put any measures in place to verify the age of its users. As a result, OpenAI now has 20 days to address these concerns, or the company could face a fine of up to €20 million or 4% of its annual worldwide turnover.
“The Italian SA imposed an immediate temporary limitation on the processing of Italian users’ data by OpenAI, the US-based company developing and managing the platform,” says the ruling.
Italy’s history of banning AI chatbots
This is not the first time the Italian government has taken action against an AI chatbot. In February, the regulator banned Replika.ai, an app that has become notorious for the personal relationships that some users develop with its chatbot. Moreover, this decision also comes just days after a nonprofit research organization filed a complaint with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) calling for a halt on future ChatGPT releases until OpenAI meets the agency’s guidelines.
Although users could still access ChatGPT with a VPN, this situation highlights the increasing pressure on AI companies to ensure that their practices align with ethical standards and legal requirements. As AI continues to evolve and play a greater role in our lives, it is vital that companies are transparent about their data collection practices.
2023-04-03 15:05:49