OpenAI, the artificial intelligence (AI) company, recently experienced a security vulnerability that caused its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, to be temporarily banned across Italy. In response, the Italian Data Protection Authority (Garante) issued a set of changes that OpenAI must comply with in order to resume its operations in Italy by April 30, 2021. Apart from better security, the Italian authority specified that OpenAI must inform Italian users more about how ChatGPT works, as well as a method for deleting or correcting inaccurate personal data. Notably, OpenAI must also set up an age verification filter by September 30, 2021, to make sure that anyone under the age of thirteen cannot use ChatGPT.
In addition to Italy’s demands, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has agreed to investigate generative AI privacy regulations in light of the issue. The board has started a task force to exchange information and enforce possible fines in relation to such regulations. OpenAI responded to the demands positively, expressing them being willing to work with Garante to get ChatGPT available in Italy soon.
OpenAI, founded in 2015, is an AI research laboratory that works to develop general artificial intelligence and models. Their products, such as Language Modeling, Robotics, and Natural Language Processing, are used by businesses, developers, and other tech startups. OpenAI was co-founded by Sam Altman and its CEO is Ilya Sutskever. It has raised more than $1.8 billion from investors such as Microsoft, Reid Hoffman, and Peter Thiel.
