ChatGPT Banned in Italy over Privacy concerns

[upnorth]

Content source

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-65139406

Italy has become the first Western country to block advanced chatbot ChatGPT.

The Italian data-protection authority said there were privacy concerns relating to the model, which was created by US start-up OpenAI and is backed by Microsoft. The regulator said it would ban and investigate OpenAI "with immediate effect".

The watchdog said on 20 March that the app had experienced a data breach involving user conversations and payment information. It said there was no legal basis to justify "the mass collection and storage of personal data for the purpose of 'training' the algorithms underlying the operation of the platform". It also said that since there was no way to verify the age of users, the app "exposes minors to absolutely unsuitable answers compared to their degree of development and awareness".

ChatGPT banned in Italy over privacy concerns

The country's data-protection regulator has serious privacy concerns over the technology.

www.bbc.com

 

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Germany could join Italy in banning ChatGPT from being used in its country

Last week, Italy's data protection agency made a decision to ban the use of ChatGPT due to data privacy concerns. Now, it looks like another European country, Germany, could made that same decision.

In an interview with the Handelsblatt newspaper (via Yahoo News), Germany's commissioner for data protection Ulrich Kelber, said that its country's regulators had been in talks with Italian government regulators on its ChatGPT ban. Kelber stated, "... in principle, such action is also possible in Germany".

Italy's ban was put in effect after the country's data protection agency said ChatGPT was possibly in violation of its data collection rules. It also claims that ChatGPT does not monitor if its service is being used by kids under 13 years of age. The chatbot AI's terms of service prohibits its use by kids in that age group.

Since the ban in Italy was put in place, the country's deputy Prime Minister, Matteo Salvini, stated he believes it was "hypocritical" for the data collection agency to make that move. He points out that other online services have their own data collection and privacy issues in Italy, but they were not blocked as ChatGPT did.

However, other countries besides Germany are talking to Italy's regulators about their actions. A spokesperson for Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner stated they are looking at what Italy did with ChatGPT and will "will coordinate with all EU data protection authorities in relation to this matter." France's government has also been in contact with Italy about its decision as well.

Germany could join Italy in banning ChatGPT from being used in its country

Germany's commissioner for data protection Ulrich Kelber says his country's government could ban ChatGPT like Italy did last week, due to both data collection concerns and child protection issues.

www.neowin.net

 

[Trident]

It took them too long to react. ChatGPT has many issues, apart from the privacy concerns. The European Union as always, is more concerned about what cable will be used for phone charging and how much water washing machines use, and does very little to investigate powerful tools, widely available to everyone.

 

[a090]

It took them too long to react. ChatGPT has many issues, apart from the privacy concerns. The European Union as always, is more concerned about what cable will be used for phone charging and how much water washing machines use, and does very little to investigate powerful tools, widely available to everyone.

Ah so true, unfortunately. When the world will burn from their lack of responsibility and sensible rule, they will still be preoccupied with such nonsense as cables, washing machines, and gas stoves. But then I think about the people who elected such fools into office and it all makes sense.

One deserves that which he is willing to tolerate.

We tolerate mediocrity too much. So we, unfortunate as it may be, deserve such poor leadership.

 

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Italy's ChatGPT ban fails to deter users due to VPNs

VPN applications have gained a vast amount of new users after Italy's ChatGPT ban. People are using the apps to access the chatbot.

Recently, the Italian government banned ChatGPT due to privacy reasons. However, this didn't stop people from reaching OpenAI's services. PureVPN has noticed an odd increase in traffic coming from Italy on their website after the ban went into effect on April 1. According to a recent blog post from the company, "Italians have been turning to VPN services following the decision of the country's data protection authority to ban ChatGPT over privacy concerns."

Italy's ChatGPT ban fails to deter users due to VPNs - gHacks Tech News

ChatGPT had many users in Italy before the ban but it looks like nothing changed after the decision. People started using VPNs.

www.ghacks.net