Harmony Restored As ChatGPT Bows To Italy’s Demands

ChatGPT Operational In Italy Again After Meeting Requirements

On April 28th, the popular chatbot from OpenAI, ChatGPT was reactivated in Italy. This was after OpenAI addressed the issues and met the requirements put forward by the Italian data protection authority. Both the company (OpenAI) and the Italian agency confirmed this development on Friday.

In a statement, OpenAI disclosed that the company had successfully “addressed or clarified” the issues raised. ChatGPT was banned in Italy by the country’s data protection authority, also called Garante in early April due to substantial privacy concerns.

Prior to the ban, Garante had launched a probe over a probable breach of privacy rules and data by the artificial intelligence company. OpenAI was also accused of failing to check the age of its users who are supposed to be over 13 years old.

While enacting the ban, Garante said that ChatGPT had an “absence of any legal basis that justifies the massive collection and storage of personal data” to “train” the chatbot. The Italian data protection agency had given OpenAI until Sunday, 30th April, to respond to the concerns before they could allow the chatbot to be operational again in the country. 

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Before ChatGPT’s reactivation in Italy, OpenAI made it clear that they had met Italy’s requirements. The company promised that it will provide greater visibility into its privacy policy. Their privacy policy will be accessible to people as they register for ChatGPT.

The company will also provide a new form on its platform which will enable European Union users to exercise their right to object to the use of their personal data to train the model. As Reuters reports, People who want to opt-out must fill out the detailed form with their personal information, including any proof of data processing by ChatGPT via pertinent prompts.

On the matter of a user’s age verification, the company said that there is a new tool in place to verify the same.

Speaking to the BBC, the Italian agency said that it “welcomed the measures OpenAI implemented.” However, Garante also added that despite the implemented measures, more could be done by OpenAI to ensure full compliance with the rules in place.

The agency also noted that it would continue with its “fact-finding activities regarding OpenAI also under the umbrella of the ad-hoc task force that was set up by the European Data Protection Board.”

The ban by Italy while the first, put a light on many issues plaguing ChatGPT and many countries in Europe and beyond began looking into AI platforms. General purpose systems like ChatGPT are drawing the attention of several countries, with some even considering joining Italy in outlawing the technology.

However, the compliance of OpenAI to Italy’s demand should solve some of the issues since the new changes on the platform will be implemented for all.