Italy has temporarily denied access to ChatGPT and opened an investigation into the popular artificial intelligence chatbot for potential violations of data collection rules.
A statement from the national data protection authority on Friday attributed the decision to concerns about how the app, created by the Italian company Turner AI with backing from Microsoft, handles user age verification. Previously, the service discouraged use by anyone under 13, but regulators question whether that safeguard is fully effective.
The Italian data protection authority decided to halt processing of ChatGPT user data in the country until there is clarity about compliance with relevant privacy provisions, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The move aims to ensure that personal data processed by the service aligns with European privacy standards.
In the regulator’s order, it notes a lack of information provided to users and other interested parties whose data is collected by OpenAI. More critically, it questions whether there exists a lawful basis for collecting and storing personal data for the purposes of training algorithms that underpin the platform.
ChatGPT risks
The launch of ChatGPT at the end of November sparked broad attention beyond the tech sector. Microsoft embraced the technology and integrated it into many of its services, including the Bing search engine and Office applications such as Word and Excel. The model’s rapid ascent has spurred other industry giants, including Google with its AI initiatives, to pursue similar paths. The competitive push is framed as a race to boost corporate productivity and innovation.
ChatGPT is capable of engaging in humanlike conversations and answering a wide range of questions. It reached 100 million monthly active users in just two months, becoming one of the fastest-growing consumer apps in history. Its use spans journalism, education, and everyday problem solving, with particular appeal among students who seek quick explanations and assistance.
Italy stands out as the first European Union country to impose a temporary block on ChatGPT. The restriction is tied to legal concerns about data handling, but it also raises ethical questions. A key risk cited is the potential for misinformation since the system generates responses based on statistical patterns from internet sources. While this approach can yield useful results, it can also produce inaccuracies and mistaken conclusions. Earlier this week, Europol, the EU’s police agency, highlighted that these tools may be misused for manipulation or cybercrime, underscoring the need for safeguards and oversight. Source: Italian Data Protection Authority