Italy lifts block on ChatGPT after data privacy concerns - The Local
ChatGPT is now available again for users in Italy, as the country's data protection watchdog has acknowledged "the steps taken to combine technological progress with the respect of people's rights".
OpenAI, the creator of the chatbot, has also provided more information on its website about how it collects and uses training data as well as greater visibility on the homepage regarding the policy regarding personal data. The company has also implemented a tool to verify the age of users in Italy when they log in.
ChatGPT caused a global sensation last year for generating essays, songs, exams and even news articles from brief prompts. However, the platform faced criticism over how it and its competitors collect and process data.
The Italian data protection watchdog blocked ChatGPT in March, stating that OpenAI had no legal basis to justify the mass collection and storage of personal data used to train the platform's algorithms. The watchdog also raised concerns over the lack of clarity regarding whose data was being collected, the improper handling of inaccurate information provided by the chatbot and the exposure of children to "absolutely unsuitable answers".
OpenAI has now made changes to address these concerns and is committed to protecting the personal data of its users.
