OpenAI's ChatGPT Returns to Italy After Addressing Data Privacy Concerns
OpenAI, the company behind the AI chatbot service ChatGPT, has officially made a comeback in Italy after the company met the demands of the data protection authority ahead of the April 30, 2023, deadline. The development was reported by the Associated Press. This reinstatement came after Garante, Italy's data protection authority, blocked access to ChatGPT on March 31, 2023, due to concerns that its practices violated data protection laws in the region.
Garante had previously demanded that OpenAI temporarily suspend the service until it addressed these issues. In response, OpenAI published a new FAQ in which it stated that it would filter and delete information such as hate speech, adult content, personal information aggregation sites and spam. It also stated that it would not actively seek out personal information to train its models, nor would it build profiles on individuals, use their information to contact or advertise to them, or sell their information.
The company acknowledged that ChatGPT's responses may contain personal information about public figures and individuals whose details are available on the public internet. However, European users who object to such processing of their personal information can fill out an online form and exercise their right to correct, restrict, delete, or transfer their information contained within OpenAI's training dataset.
Additionally, OpenAI has agreed to include an age verification option to confirm users are over 18 before accessing ChatGPT or have obtained consent from parents or guardians if aged between 13 and 18. Also, the company is expected to implement a more robust age verification system to screen minors from accessing the service.
In conclusion, OpenAI's ChatGPT is now available in Italy again after addressing its data privacy concerns. Users can also now turn off chat history and export options to access information stored by the platform.
