In March of 2023, Italy became the first western country to make a major move when it comes to chatbot technology, temporarily banning an advanced chatbot known as ChatGPT. The Italian data protection authority, Garante, cited concerns about personal data protection as the driving force behind this action, and gave OpenAI, the California-based company that created the chatbot, until the end of April to accommodate its demands.
Due to the lack of age verification on the platform, this ban was also meant to protect children from encountering any potentially harmful content. As news of the ban spread, it raised questions around the implications of this kind of decision on the growth of AI based applications.
While the ban was temporary, it provides an important lesson about the importance of proportionality and effectiveness when implementing measures like these, in addition to looking for ways to protect children from accessing potentially harmful content.
OpenAI had promised to comply with the ban and showed their willingness to collaborate with the authorities. They temporarily blocked access to ChatGPT in Italy, and agreed to provide a privacy policy, allow users to exercise their individual data protection rights, and offer more information about OpenAI’s legal basis for personal data processing.
Garante welcomed these commitments and suspended the order, but asked for OpenAI to fulfill the proposed measures by the end of April 2023.
The event raises several important points, including the need for more harmonized frameworks at the European level, the effectiveness and proportionality of blanket bans, and the protection of children. An even more focussed effort on avoiding this kind of ban could have been possible with more communication and dialogue earlier on.
The company mentioned in the article is OpenAI, the California based company created ChatGPT. Co-founded by Elon Musk, OpenAI is committed to developing artificial intelligence and robotics in a responsible way, with the research and development taking place around the world. Elon Musk is the co-founder of OpenAI and has been a leading figure in the development of artificial intelligence and robotics technologies. He is the chief executive of several companies, including Tesla and SpaceX and is a prominent figure in the world of robotics and artificial intelligence. Musk is also the inventor and designer of the Hyperloop high-speed transportation system and is known for his mission to make human life multi-planetary.
