Italy Bans Chatbot ChatGPT
Italy has recently become the first Western country to ban the use of ChatGPT, an advanced chatbot developed by US-based start-up OpenAI with the backing of Microsoft. The decision was made by the country’s data protection authority due to concerns about privacy issues. OpenAI has stated that it has complied with privacy laws, and millions of people have used the chatbot since its launch in November 2022. ChatGPT uses natural language processing to answer questions and can also mimic other writing styles. Microsoft plans to integrate it into Office apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
The ban has reignited concerns about the potential risks of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, including its threat to jobs, the spreading of misinformation and bias, and the collection and storage of personal data. Elon Musk and other tech figures have previously called for these types of AI systems to be suspended amid fears that the race to develop them is out of control.
The Italian watchdog said that it would not only block OpenAI’s chatbot but also investigate whether the company complied with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which governs the use, processing, and storage of personal data. The watchdog also highlighted a data breach that had occurred involving user conversations and payment information. It said that there was no legal basis to justify the mass collection and storage of personal data for the purpose of ‘training’ the algorithms underlying the operation of the platform. Additionally, the watchdog pointed out that since there was no way to verify the age of users, the app “exposes minors to absolutely unsuitable answers compared to their degree of development and awareness”.
As a result of these concerns, Google’s rival artificial-intelligence chatbot, Bard, is now available only to specific users over the age of 18. The Italian data-protection authority gave OpenAI 20 days to respond to its concerns, with a penalty of a €20 million ($21.7m) fine or up to 4% of annual revenues if it fails to do so. The Irish data protection commission is also following up with the Italian regulator to understand the basis for its action and will coordinate with all EU data protection authorities in connection to the ban.
Consumer advocacy group BEUC has also called on EU and national authorities, including data-protection watchdogs, to investigate ChatGPT and similar chatbots, following the filing of a complaint in the US. Although the EU is currently working on the world’s first legislation on AI, BEUC’s concern is that it would take years before the AI Act could take effect, leaving consumers at risk of harm from a technology that is not sufficiently regulated.
OpenAI has disabled ChatGPT for users in Italy at the request of the Italian data protection regulator, called the Garante. The company has stated that it is committed to protecting people’s privacy and believes it complies with GDPR and other privacy laws. It also said that AI regulation is necessary, and it looks forward to working closely with the Garante and educating them on how its systems are built and used. OpenAI is keen to make ChatGPT available in Italy again soon.
