ChatGPT was banned by the Italian data-protection authority over privacy concerns. A deadline of 30th April was set to meet certain criteria. OpenAI which makes the software, states it now meets all criteria and ChatGPT is available once again in Italy.
The Italian data-protection authority Garante banned ChatGPT at the start of April over privacy concerns. The temporary restriction was due to a suspected data breach in the AI application.
The apps maker, OpenAI, said it had “addressed or clarified” the issues raised. Its privacy policy is now accessible to users before they register. There is also a way to verify the age of its users.
Age verification in place
Garante accused OpenAI of failing to check the age of ChatGPT’s users, who are supposed to be aged 13 or above. Now, OpenAI has said it will offer a tool to verify users’ ages in Italy upon sign-up.
It will also provide a new form for EU users. This will allow Europeans to exercise their right to object to its use of personal data to train its models.
More compliance wanted by Italy
Garange told the BBC it “welcomed the measures OpenAI implemented”. However, it is also calling for increased compliance.
In particular, they want to see OpenAI “implementing an age verification system and planning and conducting an information campaign to inform Italians of what happened as well as of their right to opt-out from the processing of their personal data for training algorithms.”
Furthermore, Garante said it would continue its “fact-finding activities regarding OpenAI also under the umbrella of the ad-hoc task force that was set up by the European Data Protection Board.”
Launched in November 2022, millions of people have used the ChatGPT app. It is able to use natural language and it can mimic writing styles.
Microsoft has invested billions of dollars on the app and plans to embed a version in its Office apps, including Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook.
