ChatGPT banned in Italy for unjustified data collection

The Italian Data Protection Authority has banned ChatGPT from operating in the country until it stops collecting personal data from Italian users. If OpenAI does not comply with the decision within 20 days, it will have to pay a fine of 20 million euros or 4% of its global turnover.

The regulator has launched an investigation into the leak of regenerative artificial intelligence subscriber data that occurred on March 20. According to the agency, there is no legal basis for the collection and bulk storage of personal data to “train” the platform’s algorithms.

The European Union General Data Protection Regulation requires users’ consent for data collection. The rules were also used by the Italian authority in February to prevent the artificial intelligence of the Replika application from working.

The chatbot that created a “virtual friend” was considered risky for minors, as it suggested age-inappropriate responses and didn’t have filters to limit minors’ access. It also does not respect the principles of transparency, according to the agency.

AI pause request

The ban of ChatGPT in Italy comes after discussions about artificial intelligence, including a vulnerability and a request to “pause” the technology. In a letter signed by Elon Musk, co-founder of OpenAI, and other executives and experts this week, it was stated that artificial intelligence is a risk to humanity and its development should be stopped.

The authors of the letter argue that AI labs are in a frenzied race to develop ever more powerful digital brains. However, even its creators cannot understand, predict or control technology.

The break will be required to “jointly develop and implement a set of security protocols for the design and development of advanced AI and government algorithm control systems.”