Italy's privacy watchdog has imposed an immediate ban on ChatGPT, citing concerns over a recent data breach and the legal basis for using personal data to train the chatbot. The Italian Data Protection Authority described the move as a temporary measure 'until ChatGPT respects privacy'.
The ban follows a data breach on March 20 that exposed user conversations and personal details, including email addresses and partial credit card numbers. The watchdog also raised issues about the lack of a legal basis for collecting and processing personal data to train the AI, as well as the chatbot's tendency to produce inaccurate information.
OpenAI, the San Francisco-based company behind ChatGPT, said it had disabled the service in Italy and that it complies with the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). A spokesperson stated, 'We are committed to protecting people’s privacy and we believe we comply with GDPR and other privacy laws.'
The regulator gave OpenAI 20 days to report on measures taken to ensure user data privacy, warning of fines up to €20 million (£17.5 million) or 4% of annual global revenue. The ban does not affect companies like Microsoft that already have licences to use the underlying technology.
The move comes amid growing global concerns about AI safety, with over 1,000 experts, including Elon Musk, calling for a six-month pause on developing powerful AI systems. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman plans a six-continent trip in May to discuss the technology, including a stop in Brussels where EU lawmakers are negotiating new AI regulations.
