Italy Lifts Ban on ChatGPT after Data Privacy Improvements – DW
The artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, ChatGPT, is once again available to users in Italy after its owners addressed data privacy concerns raised by Italy’s data protection authority, Garante. Italy had blocked the site in March 2021 due to concerns over how ChatGPT processed and saved user data. OpenAI, the US-based and Microsoft-backed company that developed the chatbot, has implemented changes to comply with several data privacy conditions set by Italian regulators.
OpenAI has made changes to increase transparency on their website for how the chatbot processes user data. The platform also now grants users certain opt-out rights. They can toggle off the option for conversations to be used for training ChatGPT's algorithms. The site now also has checks to protect children under 13, with age verification in place for those accessing the site from Italy.
Users from Germany view the same data protection options when visiting the site.
ChatGPT, launched in 2022, has taken the world by storm. The chatbot can generate essays, poems, songs, computer code and even news articles based on questions or input from users. While its release has been heralded as a milestone in technological advancement, it has also sparked a debate about the possibilities of artificial intelligence and the consequences that could arise.
Italy became the first Western country to take action against ChatGPT. Its developers were accused of not having a legal basis to justify the storage and collection of users' personal data to train the site's algorithms. Italian authorities also criticized that inaccurate information produced by the platform was not being handled properly, and children were especially vulnerable to "absolutely unsuitable answers."
ChatGPT is now available again for users in Italy. OpenAI spokesperson said, "We are delighted to welcome them back and remain committed to protecting their personal data."
The site now also has a notice for users warning them that ChatGPT could produce inaccurate information about people, places, or facts.
