Italy has become the first Western country to ban the advanced chatbot ChatGPT due to privacy concerns. The Italian data-protection authority claims that there are privacy issues related to the model, which was created by US start-up OpenAI and backed by Microsoft. The regulator has stated that it will ban and investigate OpenAI “with immediate effect”. Millions of people have used ChatGPT since it launched in November 2022.
ChatGPT is an AI-powered chatbot that can answer questions using natural, human-like language. It can also mimic other writing styles using the internet as it was in 2021 as its database. Microsoft has spent billions of dollars on the technology and added it to Bing last month. It has also said that it will embed a version of the technology in its Office apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
Italy has become the first Western country to ban the advanced chatbot ChatGPT due to privacy concerns. The Italian data-protection authority claims that there are privacy issues related to the model, which was created by US start-up OpenAI and backed by Microsoft. The regulator has stated that it will ban and investigate OpenAI “with immediate effect”. Millions of people have used ChatGPT since it launched in November 2022.
ChatGPT is an AI-powered chatbot that can answer questions using natural, human-like language. It can also mimic other writing styles using the internet as it was in 2021 as its database. Microsoft has spent billions of dollars on the technology and added it to Bing last month. It has also said that it will embed a version of the technology in its Office apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
The Italian data-protection authority also raised concerns about the exposure of minors to unsuitable answers compared to their degree of development and awareness. Google’s rival AI chatbot, Bard, is now available, but only to specific users over the age of 18 due to those same concerns.
The ban shows the importance of regulatory compliance for companies operating in Europe. Businesses must prioritize the protection of personal data and comply with the stringent data protection regulations set by the EU. Compliance with regulations is not an optional extra. The Information Commissioner’s Office, the UK’s independent data regulator, stated that it would “support” developments in AI but was also ready to “challenge non-compliance” with data protection laws. The Irish data protection commission is also following up with the Italian regulator to understand the basis for their action and will coordinate with all EU data protection authorities in connection to the ban.
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