It will be the first time a nation has made such a move against ChatGPT. It is a chatbot that was launched late last year. While the tech has wowed many with its ability to write computer code and pass tough exams, its development has concerned some.
Now OpenAI had to take ChatGPT offline in Italy as Italy’s Data Protection Authority temporarily banned the chatbot. The authority launched a probe over ChatGPT’s suspected breach of privacy rules on Friday.
The agency which is known as Garante accused OpenAI of failing to check the age of the users of CharGPT, who are supposed to be aged 13 or above.
According to Garante, there is no lawful basis to warrant the extensive gathering and retention of individuals’ personal information for the sole purpose of “training” the ChatGPT chatbot. OpenAI must present solutions within 20 days or face a potential penalty of up to 20 million euros ($21.68 million) or 4% of its global annual revenue.
The company has said that it has disabled access to ChatGPT in the country. Therefore, users in Italy won’t be able to access ChatGPT.
Access to the website in Italy was not possible, and a statement displayed on the ChatGPT webpage suggested that the owner of the site may have imposed limitations that prevent users from accessing it.
Following its provisional restrictions on the use of domestic users’ personal data by ChatGPT, Italy has become the first Western nation to take action against an AI-powered chatbot.
If you don’t know, mainland China, Hong Kong, Iran, Russia, and some parts of Africa are among the regions where individuals are unable to create OpenAI accounts, thereby rendering ChatGPT unavailable in those areas.
Since its introduction last year, ChatGPT has caused a surge in technological advancements, prompting rivals to create similar products while businesses integrated it or similar technologies into their applications and products.
The excellent development of this technology has captured the attention of lawmakers in many nations. Given its potential impact on national security, employment, and education, experts say that new regulations must be required to regulate AI.
“We anticipate that all companies operating within the EU will comply with EU data protection laws. The responsibility for enforcing the General Data Protection Regulation falls on EU data protection authorities,” stated a spokesperson for the European Commission.
European Commission Executive Vice President, Margrethe Vestager, tweeted that the Commission, which is presently debating the EU AI Act, may not be inclined to prohibit AI.