Italy temporarily bans ChatGPT

Italy’s data protection agency has announced a temporary block on ChatGPT within the country’s borders, citing insufficient safeguards for user data and a lack of measures to prevent minors from using its generative AI service. Italy has also launched an investigation into the matter.

OpenAI has a deadline of 20 days to comply with the order under the GDPR of Europe. Failure to do so could result in fines amounting to 4 percent of global revenue or €20 million, whichever is higher.

OpenAI recently experienced a glitch that exposed the private conversation history titles of its users. Later it admitted that the breach was more significant than it had initially estimated, revealing that the payment card data of ChatGPT Plus subscribers had also been exposed.

There is also a complete lack of gatekeeping for minors, which is a significant concern. Another significant issue with ChatGPT and other AI chatbots like it is the issue of “training” the AI itself.

The ban on ChatGPT in Italy highlights the growing concerns about data privacy and the role of AI in our lives. Policymakers across the world are grappling with how to respond to the rise of AI products and the enormous amounts of data they consume from tens of millions of users worldwide. The move by Italy’s data protection agency could be the first of many regulatory actions against popular chatbots and AI services.

OpenAI has stated that it is committed to protecting people’s privacy and believes it complies with GDPR and other privacy laws. The temporary block on ChatGPT in Italy highlights the need for stronger data protection measures and the importance of ensuring that AI services are held accountable for their actions.