OpenAI's ChatGPT Chatbot Faces Massive Fine And Historic Ban In Italy Over Data Collection Breach

The Data Protection Authority of Italy has temporarily banned OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot and launched an investigation over a suspected breach of data collection rules.

[{"selector":"#anim-dcc4fdde-b872-4b7c-bfb4-cbaa14c7a573","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-be64344d-71e9-4488-a582-9304a06a0c8d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -138.1362%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb2edd8c-bb4f-4a0d-bc63-89b2dff1b162","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b6bae912-9284-4bc3-a570-c7f0249d21c8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 142.90126%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

ChatGPT is accused by the agency of failing to check the age of its users, who are supposed to be 13 & above.

[{"selector":"#anim-764f5825-7ce6-4518-9a78-cf16c0d04820","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0fad4240-2f2a-4689-8a3a-91063270323b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -133.87456%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b486dbb2-9a4a-4cc5-83e5-0227c60d9ba1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ad9fc333-6da7-42bf-be05-f0761ee001f2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 157.39465%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The agency, a.k.a. Garante, says ChatGPT has no legal basis to justify the massive collection & storage of personal data used to train the chatbot.

[{"selector":"#anim-eca1abd7-716c-4460-b289-6191f4dd1ee0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf6ec3d3-eb45-42a9-85db-de0d040f82c9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -134.26731%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-571ef4a3-199b-4960-ad79-d0b9764f2010","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ceeced8-34a5-4962-8dec-030a38dd5838","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 150.14433%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

20 days are given to OpenAI to respond with remedies or risk losing up to 4% of its worldwide turnover.

[{"selector":"#anim-b666a766-fad9-4b57-90f0-7846555dd57e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-337fcdf0-7511-4098-b1aa-1b30dd020745","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -134.26731%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93595684-a85c-4483-9cbb-d1d43e245411","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1b96d643-7986-4d1e-ad4f-965d81950175","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 159.46363%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

ChatGPT was still answering questions from Italian users on Friday evening.

[{"selector":"#anim-501c2097-60ac-48eb-b548-9776fb76bc64","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-72470694-2e55-4542-a232-667721e7e6d8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -130.86742%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8debd810-e2e5-4d4c-af3e-a4301f76c056","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e8978f1a-d077-42a0-8880-e3f3b588b2f8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 165.14718%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

There was no immediate response from OpenAI to a request to comment.

[{"selector":"#anim-3dcc31a9-e1a2-40cd-a6ae-1ac334658cf3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e706c832-d5a4-4bc3-a921-82eec8d8b4f0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -130.76699%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-efc6ba4a-cb43-46db-ae1b-e645387ac6d3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bfe456fd-49c1-482e-b1c1-fb3cc96e4e00","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 174.54891%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Thus, Italy became the first western country to take action against a chatbot powered by AI.

[{"selector":"#anim-4cff6b49-488f-4c42-b5c3-cf7a397f5b04","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cec76393-dcad-41e6-a908-ca8df768e742","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -131.27572%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d2b26dc8-6b20-4598-9779-559447b71907","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e7f88d7e-5327-416a-b059-821417600557","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 165.14718%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

It’s to be noted that ChatGPT is not available in mainland China, Hong Kong, Iran, & Russia, & parts of Africa, where residents cannot create OpenAI accounts.

[{"selector":"#anim-c7afaebb-a184-4ee1-873f-371cdc9e9665","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b1c79f5-9543-45ab-bc77-0f4b97069cc1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -137.06026%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ea0bd5f9-5050-4beb-9c07-34ef88c5561d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-32698f8d-3d33-48ab-b46b-17a47909e7a2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 159.88457%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

According to many experts, new regulations are needed to govern AI because of its potential impact on national security, jobs, & education.

[{"selector":"#anim-3cb9a8fa-e202-4903-90f2-4a8a4b626845","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5565a045-f50c-4a6b-9508-18423d905775","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -140.84399%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9584be4e-8761-4316-abf5-b9b43cae9e34","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f745052c-5118-403b-8b79-a2188c9f6460","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 128.32784%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The Italian watchdog said OpenAI must report within 20 days what measures it has taken to ensure the privacy of user’s data or face a fine of up to20 million euros, or 4% of its annual global revenue.

[{"selector":"#anim-88702218-d28a-48f6-a743-134168c78be3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3af8d1d0-dd99-4a07-9e36-e144b7f42eeb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -139.67189%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2779275b-9d94-4b20-80ef-654ef13eeb64","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e2764b2a-c9d4-4f0b-af82-2fa2fa3c97a5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 136.38345%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]