Italy’s Data Protection Authority (DPA) has raised concerns about data privacy violations by ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot. According to the DPA, the violations are primarily related to collecting personal data and inadequate protections for underage users. ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, processes vast amounts of internet data.
OpenAI has been given a 30-day period to present its defence following these allegations. The BBC has reached out to OpenAI for a statement on this matter.
Italy has maintained a strict approach to data protection about ChatGPT. In March 2023, citing privacy issues, Italy became the first Western nation to block ChatGPT. The service was reinstated approximately four weeks later, with OpenAI claiming to have addressed the concerns raised by the Italian DPA.
The Italian DPA initiated a “fact-finding activity” during the temporary suspension, concluding that ChatGPT violated data privacy norms. The DPA’s statement highlighted breaches of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), particularly regarding the mass collection of user data used for training the chatbot’s algorithm.
The regulator also expressed worries about the potential exposure of young users to inappropriate content generated by ChatGPT. Under the EU’s GDPR, companies violating these regulations can face fines of up to 4% of their global turnover.
Working with the European Union’s European Data Protection Board, Italy’s DPA has been actively monitoring ChatGPT since April 2023. When ChatGPT was allowed to resume operations in Italy, the regulator acknowledged OpenAI’s efforts but urged greater compliance, particularly in implementing age verification systems and informing Italian users about their rights to opt out of data processing for training algorithms.
An OpenAI spokesperson stated their commitment to ongoing dialogue with the regulator. OpenAI, which has significant investment from Microsoft, has seen its technology integrated into various Microsoft products, including the Bing search engine and Office 365 applications like Word, Teams, and Outlook.
