Clouds are starting to build over ChatGPT. While Elon Musk and hundreds of experts are calling for a break in research on artificial intelligence more powerful than version 4 of ChatGPT, Italy has decided to go further by purely and simply blocking the chatbot from OpenAI. The transalpine authorities believe that ChatGPT does not comply with European regulations on personal data (RGPD) and does not offer a device to verify the age of users online.
As part of this decision, the National Personal Data Protection Authority has announced that the OpenAI chatbot, widely promoted by Microsoft, will suffer a “temporary limitation of the processing of data of Italian users”. At the same time, the Italian Cnil announced the opening of an investigation to dig deeper into the subject.
20 days to avoid a fine of 20 million euros
To justify its concerns, the regulator mentions a loss of data that occurred on March 20, involving user conversations and information related to the payment of subscribers to the paid service. It gives OpenAI 20 days to correct its shortcomings and thus comply with European regulations, under penalty of exposing itself to a fine of up to 20 million euros or up to 4% of its turnover. annual global affairs.
It now remains to be seen whether Italy’s attitude towards ChatGPT could inspire other European countries, like France. The European Commission could also take up the case, while the European police agency Europol has warned against the use of AI like ChatGPT for criminal purposes.