Italy becomes the first country to ban ChatGPT over privacy concerns

Italy is the first Western country to prohibit the advanced chatbot ChatGPT.

The Italian data protection authority expressed concerns about the model, which was developed by the US start-up OpenAI and is backed by Microsoft.

The regulator stated that it would ban and investigate OpenAI “immediately.”

According to OpenAI, it complied with privacy laws.

ChatGPT has been used by millions of people since its inception in November 2022. It can respond to questions in natural, human-like language and mimic other writing styles, using the internet as it was in 2021 as its database.

Also Read: ChatGPT has been leaking your conversation

Microsoft has spent billions of dollars on it, and it was recently added to Bing.

It has also stated that it will incorporate a version of the technology into its Office applications, which include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Concerns have been raised about the potential risks of artificial intelligence (AI), including job loss and the spread of misinformation and bias.

Earlier this week, key figures in technology, including Elon Musk, called for the suspension of these types of AI systems, citing concerns that the race to develop them was out of control.

The Italian data protection authority stated that it would not only block OpenAI’s chatbot, but would also investigate whether it complied with the General Data Protection Regulation.

GDPR governs how we can use, process, and store personal data.

On March 20, the watchdog announced that the app had suffered a data breach involving user conversations and payment information.

It stated that there was no legal basis for “mass collection and storage of personal data for the purpose of ‘training’ the algorithms underlying the platform’s operation.”

It also claimed that because there was no way to verify users’ ages, the app “exposes minors to absolutely inappropriate answers compared to their level of development and awareness.”

Because of the same concerns, Google’s rival artificial-intelligence chatbot, Bard, is now available, but only to specific users over the age of 18.

The Italian data-protection authority said OpenAI had 20 days to respond to the watchdog’s concerns or face a fine of €20 million ($21.7 million) or up to 4% of annual revenues.

In other news, the Irish data protection commission told the BBC that it is following up with the Italian regulator to understand the reason for their action and that it “will coordinate with all EU data protection authorities” in relation to the ban.

The UK’s independent data regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office, told the BBC that it would “support” AI developments but would also “challenge non-compliance” with data protection laws.

Dan Morgan, from cybersecurity ratings provider SecurityScorecard said the ban shows the importance of regulatory compliance for companies operating in Europe.

“Businesses must prioritise 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.”