The head of Italy’s privacy watchdog was hopeful on Tuesday that OpenAI and its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, could soon be back online in the country. In late March, ChatGPT was blocked by Italy’s Data Protection Authority due to data privacy concerns, becoming the first Western nation to take such drastic measures against the popular AI chatbot.
The executive director of the watchdog, Pasquale Stanzione, stated that if OpenAI were to make “useful steps” and update its algorithms, the chatbot could be back on the web by April 30. Stanzione went on to say that it looks like there is a willingness to cooperate on OpenAI’s behalf, though nothing is certain just yet.
Released last year, ChatGPT gained sudden global attention for generating essays, songs, exams, and more from brief prompts. Critics feared that the technology had an unclear data collection process, making it harder to guarantee users’ privacy. Stanzione commented that OpenAI must prove they have a legal basis for the collection and storage of personal data, must clearly inform users regarding why their data is being used, and must work to reduce the chances of providing misleading answers.
OpenAI launched ChatGPT with the hope of incorporating its AI technology into Microsoft’s Bing search engine and other projects. This sparked a “gold rush” among tech firms and venture capitalists, with Google launching its own chatbot and investors pouring money into various AI initiatives. Although these are exciting times for the tech industry, it is equally important that all relevant laws are strictly followed in order to protect the safety and privacy of users.
OpenAI is an American computer science research laboratory founded in 2015. The company specializes in artificial intelligence technology and focuses on researching advanced topics such as deep learning and reinforcement learning. OpenAI received numerous awards, recognition, and investments from leading tech companies such as Microsoft and Amazon.
The Data Protection Authority’s executive director, Pasquale Stanzione, is an Italian jurist who has had a long career within the justice system and public administration. He served as regional advisor for two regional presidents, has taught information law in some of Italy’s top universities, and was appointed to the position of executive director in 2017. Stanzione has acted as a prominent figure in the developments surrounding the data privacy regulations of the country.
