Italy Restores ChatGPT After OpenAI Offers To Verify Italian Users
OpenAI, in collaboration with Microsoft, has successfully resolved issues raised by Italy's data protection authority, Garante, which led to the temporary removal of the ChatGPT chatbot last month. The data protection authority had initiated an investigation into the AI application's potential violation of privacy regulations after declaring that the collection and storage of personal data by ChatGPT lacked legal justification for the purpose of training the chatbot. The Garante also noted that OpenAI failed to verify the age of ChatGPT's users, who are required to be 13 years or older.
OpenAI has responded by providing a tool to verify the age of users during sign-up in Italy, thereby satisfying the Garante's concerns. Consequently, the chatbot has now resumed operations in Italy.
It is noteworthy that Spain had also raised concerns over the ChatGPT chatbot, and requested the European Union's Data Protection Board to discuss the matter. However, it is unclear whether Spain's concerns have been addressed, or if further actions will be taken.
