Italy’s data protection authority announced on Friday that it has initiated an investigation into Sora, a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool developed by US company OpenAI.
Expressing concerns regarding “the potential implications for the processing of personal data of users within the European Union, particularly in Italy,” the Italian Data Protection Authority has requested clarifications from OpenAI.
Sora, unveiled in February and currently in a testing phase without public availability, has the capability to generate lifelike videos up to a minute in length based on simple user commands.
The watchdog has given OpenAI a 20-day deadline to provide details on various aspects, including the types of data collected and utilised to train the tool, particularly focusing on whether it involves personal data and sensitive categories such as religious or philosophical beliefs, political opinions, health, or sexual life.
Additionally, the authority seeks assurance that Sora will adhere to European data protection regulations if introduced in the EU.
This move follows Italian authorities’ temporary suspension of OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT in March of the previous year. The suspension was due to alleged non-compliance with European regulations and a lack of mechanisms to verify users’ ages.
Last year, PM Giorgia Meloni announced Italy would hold an AI conference during its 2024 G7 presidency.
