Italy’s Data Protection Authority Accuses OpenAI of Collecting Personal Data Illegally
OpenAI’s popular chatbot, ChatGPT, has been taken offline in Italy following an investigation by the country’s Data Protection Authority, also known as Garante. The regulator has accused OpenAI, which is backed by Microsoft, of failing to check the ages of users and illegally collecting personal data to train the chatbot. Italy has provisionally restricted ChatGPT’s use of domestic users’ personal data, and OpenAI has disabled the service for Italian users.
Violation of Data Privacy Rules
Garante has accused OpenAI of collecting and storing personal data without any legal basis that justifies the massive collection and storage of personal data to “train” the chatbot. According to the regulator, the absence of legal grounds for data collection and storage is a violation of data privacy rules.
Remedies Required within 20 Days
OpenAI has 20 days to respond with remedies or could face a fine of up to €20m or 4% of its annual worldwide turnover. The firm has not yet provided details on how it trains its AI model. However, the lack of transparency in the process is a concern for many AI experts.
Chatbot Unavailable in Some Countries
Aside from Italy, ChatGPT is not accessible to users in mainland China, Hong Kong, Iran, Russia, and some parts of Africa where OpenAI accounts cannot be created. Since its launch last year, ChatGPT has gained immense popularity, amassing around 100 million monthly active users in January. However, the rapid development of AI technology has prompted concerns among lawmakers in several countries, leading to calls for new regulations to govern AI’s impact on national security, jobs, and education.
Response from European Commission
The European Commission, which is debating the EU AI Act, has stated that it expects all companies active in the EU to respect EU data protection rules. EU data protection authorities are responsible for enforcing the General Data Protection Regulation. While the Commission may not be inclined to impose a complete ban on AI, its focus is rather on regulating its usage to safeguard individual rights.
Call for a Pause in AI Development
A group of AI experts and industry executives, including Elon Musk, called for a six-month pause in the development of systems more advanced than OpenAI’s recently released GPT-4. The group pointed out potential societal risks and emphasized the need for increased transparency in the development process.
Conclusion
ChatGPT’s temporary ban in Italy highlights the importance of data privacy regulations in AI development. As the technology continues to evolve, it is essential to balance innovation with ethical and legal considerations to protect individuals’ rights and prevent potential risks to society.
