OpenAI Brings ChatGPT Back to Italy
OpenAI's chatbot, ChatGPT, was recently unbanned in Italy after a temporary ban due to a data breach and violation of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). On March 31, 2021, Garante, Italy's data protection agency, blocked ChatGPT because of its data breach on March 20, which also led to an alleged violation of GDPR. The chatbot did not verify the age of its users, although it should have been available for people aged 13 and above.
OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, took part in a videoconference meeting with commissioners from the Italian data protection agency on April 5, during which OpenAI pledged to cooperate with regulators and comply with the laws that ensure Italian and European citizens' data protection. OpenAI also published a blog post on April 6 promising a safer approach to its activities, with a particular focus on protecting children. The post stated that ChatGPT could be used by people aged 18 and above or 13 and above with parental approval. Additionally, OpenAI indicated it does not use data to sell their services, advertise, or build profiles on users, and ChatGPT declined requests for personal information about individuals privately.
On April 28, Sam Altman tweeted that ChatGPT is "available in Italy again," but no further details were given. It can be assumed that OpenAI has met GDPR regulations on privacy and child protection.
OpenAI's Safety Features
OpenAI has implemented new privacy features to protect consumers. Users can select which chats are used to train OpenAI's models. OpenAI will soon release ChatGPT Business, which will provide a more robust data management option.
Overall, the unbanning of ChatGPT in Italy indicates OpenAI's commitment to protecting users' privacy and complying with regulations. The improved safety features of the chatbot and OpenAI's efforts to cooperate with regulators demonstrate the company's dedication to a safer and more secure chatbot experience.
