ChatGPT returns to Italy after month-long ban
CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES — Artificial intelligence research laboratory OpenAI announced the return of ChatGPT’s services in Italy after its ban last March.
According to the firm, changes were made to satisfy regulators’ demands following an accusation from the Italian Data Protection Authority (GPDP) that the service was unlawfully collecting user data and not preventing minors from accessing inappropriate material.
OpenAI has since created a new form that European Union (EU) users can use to remove personal data under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
A new tool will also verify users’ ages during signup in Italy. Moreover, the firm published a new help center article outlining how OpenAI and ChatGPT collect personal information and contact its GDPR-mandated data protection officer.
Meanwhile, GPDP said it “welcomes the measures OpenAI implemented” and urged the company to comply with two other demands for an age-verification system and a publicity campaign informing Italians about the backstory and their right to opt out of data processing.
However, OpenAI may face further challenges from other countries as some opened or considered opening investigations into OpenAI’s practices, including how it collects training data and what information the model produces for users.
Additionally, European lawmakers are advancing the AI Act, which could introduce new disclosure requirements for companies like OpenAI.
