Italy: Italy blocks ChatGPT: Why, how and all other key questions answered – Times of India

Italy has become the first country in the world to block the artificial intelligence software ChatGPT. The block though is temporary so far. The European nation has paused access to Microsoft-backed ChatGPT in the wake of a data breach as it investigates a possible violation of stringent European Union data protection rules, the government’s privacy watchdog said.
Who blocked ChatGPT
ChatGPT has been blocked by the Italian Data Protection Authority. It said that it was taking provisional action “until ChatGPT respects privacy,” including temporarily limiting the company from processing Italian users’ data. Incidentally, the move is unlikely to affect apps from companies that already have licenses with OpenAI to use the same technology driving the chatbot, such as Microsoft‘s Bing search engine.
On what grounds ChatGPT has been blocked
The Italian agency’s statement cites the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation. It noted that ChatGPT suffered a data breach on March 20 involving “users’ conversations” and information about subscriber payments. Last week, OpenAI confirmed that it had to take ChatGPT offline on March 20 to fix a bug that allowed some users to see the titles, or subject lines, of other users’ chat history. “Our investigation has also found that 1.2% of ChatGPT Plus users might have had personal data revealed to another user,” the company said. “We believe the number of users whose data was actually revealed to someone else is extremely low and we have contacted those who might be impacted.”
The privacy watchdog lamented the lack of a legal basis to justify OpenAI’s “massive collection and processing of personal data” used to train the platform’s algorithms. It further added that the company does not notify users whose data it collects. The agency also said that ChatGPT can sometimes generate – and store – false information about individuals. It also noted that there’s no system to verify users’ ages, exposing children to responses “absolutely inappropriate to their age and awareness.” The president of the Italian Data Protection Authority, Pasquale Stanzione, told Italian state TV that he is one of those who signed the appeal. He said he did so because “it’s not clear what aims are being pursued” ultimately by those developing AI. If AI should “impinge” on a person’s “self-determination,” then “this is very dangerous,” Stanzione said. He also described the absence of filters for users younger than 13 as “rather grave.”
OpenAI needs to report in 20 days
The Italian watchdog said that OpenAI must report within 20 days what measures it has taken to ensure the privacy of users’ data or face a fine of up to either 20 million euros (nearly $22 million) or 4% of annual global revenue.
Not the first blocking
While Italy is the first country to block access to ChatGPT, some public schools and universities across the world have blocked the website from their local networks over student plagiarism concerns.