Germany Considers Ban on ChatGPT Due to Privacy Concerns

Germany Considers Ban on ChatGPT Due to Privacy Concerns

Germany is reportedly considering a ban on the AI chatbot, ChatGPT, due to privacy concerns.

This follows Italy’s recent decision to ban the system for not having a proper legal basis for collecting personal information about its users. OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, collects some data to help train the algorithm that generates answers. However, Italian authorities accused OpenAI of not performing age verification checks for its ChatGPT users, potentially exposing young users to “unsuitable answers”. European data regulators, including those in France and Ireland, are in conversation with Italy’s data protection agency to understand the basis for its action. The European consumer organisation BEUC has also called for an investigation into the risks of ChatGPT and similar chatbots for European consumers.

Italy Bans ChatGPT Over Privacy Concerns

Italy was the first Western country to ban ChatGPT due to privacy concerns, with its data protection authorities concluding that the system does not have a proper legal basis to collect personal information about its users. ChatGPT creator OpenAI collects some data to help train the artificial intelligence algorithm that generates answers. However, Italian authorities accused OpenAI of not performing age verification checks for its ChatGPT users, potentially exposing young users to “unsuitable answers”. The Italian Data Protection Authority GPDP said OpenAI had no legal basis to justify “the mass collection and storage of personal data for the purpose of ‘training’ the algorithms underlying the operation of the platform”.

European Data Regulators in Conversation with Italy’s Data Protection Agency

European data regulators, including those in France and Ireland, are in conversation with Italy’s data protection agency to understand the basis for its action against ChatGPT. A spokesperson for Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) stated that they were “following up with the Italian regulator to understand the basis for their action”, and would “coordinate with all EU data protection authorities in relation to this matter”. The European consumer organisation BEUC has also called for an investigation into the risks of ChatGPT and similar chatbots for European consumers.

OpenAI No Longer Processing Data of Italian Users

Following Italy’s ban of ChatGPT, OpenAI has blocked the system in Italy and is no longer processing the data of Italian users. This move follows the Italian Data Protection Authority GPDP’s conclusion that OpenAI had no legal basis to justify “the mass collection and storage of personal data for the purpose of ‘training’ the algorithms underlying the operation of the platform”.

BEUC Calls for Investigation into Risks of ChatGPT and Similar Chatbots

The European consumer organisation BEUC has called for an investigation into the risks of ChatGPT and similar chatbots for European consumers. This comes after Italy’s ban of ChatGPT due to privacy concerns and OpenAI’s decision to block the system in Italy and no longer process the data of Italian users. European data regulators, including those in France and Ireland, are in conversation with Italy’s data protection agency to understand the basis for its action against ChatGPT.

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