OpenAI has made updates to the ChatGPT website in response to concerns raised by the Italian Data Protection Authority regarding users’ personal data. The Italian regulator demanded that OpenAI stop collecting this data, claiming that the chatbot was in potential violation of Europe's GDPR privacy law. OpenAI addressed these concerns by adding new pages and forms to its website that offers more transparency and control to users about the data practices surrounding the popular chatbot. After making these changes, ChatGPT is now available to users once again in Italy.
One of the updates includes the addition of a new article in the help center that explains how OpenAI relies on user inputs to help improve ChatGPT’s AI model. The article clarifies that OpenAI does not use the data for selling its services, advertising, or building profiles of people. OpenAI uses users’ data to make its models more helpful. The company has also added greater visibility to a form that lets users opt-out of future data collection. Another change specific to Italy is a pop-up on the ChatGPT homepage outlining OpenAI's privacy policies. That pop-up features a button requesting the user confirm that they meet the age or parental requirements to access the AI program.
While OpenAI has resolved issues surrounding ChatGPT and user privacy in Italy, various regulators in the European Union have signaled they’re looking closely at potentially regulating ChatGPT over concerns it could spread misinformation, infringe on user privacy, and be exploited for cybercrime. OpenAI has also added the option for users based in California to request that the company delete their personal information under the state’s data protection law.
