OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot was reactivated in Italy after data protection issues were addressed

The ChatGPT chatbot was reactivated in Italy after its maker OpenAI addressed issues raised by Italy’s data protection authority, the agency and the company confirmed on Friday.

Microsoft-backed OpenAI took ChatGPT offline in Italy last month after the country’s data protection authority, also known as Garante, temporarily banned the chatbot and launched an investigation into the AI app’s suspected breach of privacy rules.

Garante had given OpenAI until Sunday to address its concerns about restarting the chatbot in the country.

Last month, Garante said ChatGPT “has no legal basis to justify the massive collection and storage of personal data” to “train” the chatbot.

Garante had also accused OpenAI of failing to verify the age of ChatGPT users, who are supposed to be at least 13 years old. OpenAI said it offers a tool to verify the age of users when registering in Italy.

The company said on Friday that it will provide greater visibility into its privacy policy and user content opt-out form.

It also offers a new form for users in the European Union to exercise their right to object to its use of personal data to train models, a company spokesperson said.

The form requires people who wish to opt-out to provide detailed personal information, including evidence of data processing through relevant prompts.

Garante said it recognizes the steps taken to connect technological development with human rights and hopes the company will continue on this path to comply with European data protection regulations.

Italy was the first Western European country to crack down on ChatGPT, but its rapid development has attracted the attention of lawmakers and regulators in several countries.

A committee of European Union lawmakers agreed on Thursday to new rules that will force companies using generative artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT to disclose all copyrighted material used to develop their systems.

Garante’s interest in ChatGPT is confirmed by the European Data Protection Board, a body that unites Europe’s national data protection supervisors, and established a working group on the chatbot earlier this month.

Garante said he will continue to investigate ChatGPT and work with a special task force.

Read all the Latest Tech News here.