ChatGPT Faces $3 Billion Lawsuit for Alleged Data Theft and Privacy Violations
In a shocking turn of events, the creators of ChatGPT, OpenAI Inc., and investor Microsoft have been hit with a massive $3 billion class-action lawsuit. The suit alleges that the companies engaged in the theft of data from millions of internet users, using it to train their artificial intelligence (AI) models without obtaining proper consent. The lawsuit, filed by 16 individuals under pseudonyms, claims that OpenAI and Microsoft collected and disclosed personal information without providing adequate notice or consent.
According to the lawsuit, OpenAI took part in the secret scrapping of the internet, illegally obtaining vast amounts of personal information to develop their AI tools. The complaint, filed in federal court in California, accuses the companies of disregarding legal means of obtaining data and choosing to gather it without paying for it.
The petitioners, represented by the Clarkson Law Firm, have opted to remain anonymous to avoid potential backlash. They estimate that millions of individuals have been harmed by the data theft and seek $3 billion in potential damages.
The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI violated privacy laws by secretly scraping 300 billion words from the internet, including personal information obtained without consent. OpenAI failed to register as a data broker, as required by law. Furthermore, the complaint states that through their AI products, OpenAI and Microsoft collect, store, track, share, and disclose a wide range of personal information, including product details, account information, contact details, login credentials, payment information, and much more. The extent of information collected by the companies poses a risk of civilizational collapse.
While the lawsuit highlights the potential harm caused by AI models and the need for stricter regulation, it lacks specific instances of harm. OpenAI and Microsoft have yet to respond to the lawsuit.
The incident raises concerns about the wider use of generative AI applications like ChatGPT. Privacy and misinformation have become significant issues, leading experts, businesses, organizations, and governments worldwide to impose limitations on their usage. The US Congress is currently debating the future of AI as questions arise surrounding the impact on creative industries and the ability to discern fact from fiction.
Interestingly, the leaders of OpenAI recently called for stricter regulations on super intelligent AIs to prevent potential destruction caused by these machines. The mistrust surrounding generative AI has grown, and the recent data scraping by OpenAI further intensifies these concerns.
In their pursuit of profits, OpenAI seems to have abandoned their original mission of advancing AI for the benefit of humanity as a whole. The plaintiffs claim that OpenAI unlawfully gained access to private information through user interactions with their products and integrations with platforms like Snapchat, Spotify, Stripe, Slack, and Microsoft Teams. This alleged misappropriation of personal data on a large scale is believed to have fueled OpenAI’s drive in the AI arms race.
The lawsuit is a significant blow to OpenAI, as it not only involves substantial financial damages but also casts doubt on the trustworthiness of their AI models. The outcome of this legal battle could have far-reaching implications for the future of AI development and the protection of user privacy.
