Germany has launched a probe into ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot service with regards to data protection issues. The European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has been called into question on how ChatGPT adhere to it and protect their users’ data. The German state regulator has asked OpenAI, the California-based company behind the chatbot, to submit a response by June 11th.
Marit Hansen, the State Data Protection Commissioner for the German state of Schleswig-Holstein, has asked OpenAI for information about the GDPR compliance. OpenAI must provide protection for any personal data collected by the chatbot from European citizens. OpenAI also needs to inform users of their rights, also known as the ‘right to access, correct and delete’ any data.
The investigation has also revealed concerns about how ChatGPT is accessing and processing information from minors. The chatbot isn’t age-restricted, meaning it can expose minors to unsuitable language and images which European regulators have zero-tolerance for.
A ban has already been implemented in Italy for the chatbot, their reasoning for the ban was because of the large amount of user data that is collected and stored by OpenAI. The mass collection and storage of user data is used to train ChatGPT’s algorithms, which is the opposite of GDPR standards. Italy also has criticised how the chatbot is serving minors.
Global calls have been increasing to regulate AI with US President Joe Biden and the European Commission being called upon by European lawmakers to create international regulations in regards to AI. AI is an important subject and it is necessary to have additional regulations surrounding it, as countries like China have already formed their own laws around AI.
OpenAI, who is based in California USA, is the company behind ChatGPT. They are a research laboratory that researches the safety and social impact of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Founded in 2015 by the most influential minds of AI including Elon Musk, Sam Altman and others, the company works on AGI technologies that are beneficial to humanity.
Marit Hansen is the State Data Protection Commissioner for the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. She is responsible for investigating data protection violations in the state, and has been the face of the probe into ChatGPT, asking OpenAI for information on their GDPR compliance.
