Italy Bans ChatGPT — Italy has become the first western country to block the advanced AI chatbot ChatGPT, which was created by US start-up OpenAI and is backed by Microsoft. The Italian data protection authority has said there were privacy concerns relating to the model and has banned and launched an investigation into OpenAI “with immediate effect”.
Millions of people have used ChatGPT since it launched in November 2022. It can answer questions using natural, human-like language and 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 it and it was added to Bing last month.
The Italian watchdog has said that it will investigate whether OpenAI complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which governs how we can use, process, and store personal data.
The watchdog said on 20 March that the app had experienced a data breach involving user conversations and payment information. It also said 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”.
OpenAI has said that it complied with privacy laws and that it looked forward to making ChatGPT available in Italy again “soon”. It also said that it worked to reduce personal data in training AI systems like ChatGPT because it wanted its AI systems to “learn about the world, not about private individuals”.
There have been concerns over the potential risks of artificial intelligence (AI), including its threat to jobs and the spreading of misinformation and bias. Earlier this week, key figures in tech, including Elon Musk, called for these types of AI systems to be suspended amid fears the race to develop them was out of control.
Although the EU is currently working on the world’s first legislation on AI, consumer advocacy group BEUC has 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. Ursula Pachl, deputy director general of BEUC, warned that society was “currently not protected enough from the harm” that AI can cause.
The Italian data protection authority said OpenAI had 20 days to say how it would address the watchdog’s concerns, under penalty of a fine of €20 million ($21.7m) or up to 4% of annual revenues.
The ban on ChatGPT in Italy has raised questions about the use of AI and the need for more robust regulations to ensure the protection of personal data and privacy.
While some experts have lauded the move by the Italian data protection authority, others have criticized it, arguing that it could stifle innovation and harm the development of AI.
Some have also expressed concerns that the ban may set a precedent for other countries to follow suit, potentially leading to a patchwork of regulations that could hinder the development of AI and its benefits.
However, many agree that there is a need for a balance between innovation and regulation and that the development of AI must be accompanied by safeguards to protect against potential harm.
As the use of AI becomes more widespread, we will likely see increased scrutiny and regulation of AI systems, particularly those that use personal data or have the potential to cause harm.
While there is no doubt that AI has the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives, we must take steps to ensure that its development is guided by ethical and regulatory frameworks that prioritize the protection of personal data and privacy.