In a statement issued on January 29 the Italian data protection authority (IDA) declared OpenAI violated its data protection and privacy laws, .
In the statement, the IDA has determined, following a “fact-finding activity,” that the widely used artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT by OpenAI fails to comply with the stipulations outlined in the GDPR of the European Union.
Initially initiated in November 2023, the “fact-finding” investigation sought to ascertain the occurrence of online AI data harvesting. It has requested that OpenAI submit any counterclaims within thirty days of receiving the notice in response to the allegations of breaches.
The IDA stated that it would consider the findings of a task force of national privacy watchdogs established by the European Data Protection Framework (EDPB) when finalizing the situation.
Italy initially prohibited the use of ChatGPT in March 2023; this development is a consequence of that prohibition. The nation was the first globally to deny the AI application at the time, in response to a data breach that compromised the platform and exposed confidential user information.
The prohibition of ChatGPT by Italian regulators attracted criticism, and a few weeks after its initial crackdown, the authority declared its intention to lift the ban, contingent upon OpenAI fulfilling a series of transparency obligations.
Italy once more regained access to the AI chatbot on April 29. However, Italy has been actively observing the developments and deployments of artificial intelligence.
The government established a multimillion-dollar fund in May for employees whose jobs may be threatened by AI replacement. The program also aimed to facilitate the growth of digital competencies among the specific population that was at risk.
Italy fined the municipality of Trento $54,000 on January 26 for misusing artificial intelligence technology in scientific research involving social networks, cameras, and microphones. It was the first municipality in Italy to be assessed such a sanction.
Italy, which will assume the G7 presidency in 2024, has stated that AI regulation will be a primary concern, among other things. Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Georgia, has declared her intention to convene a dedicated session on artificial intelligence (AI) that will encompass G7 members before the June first leaders’ summit.
