Italy is the first country in the world to block ChatGPT: what caused the ban of the AI chatbot

On Friday, March 31, the Italian National Authority for Personal Data Protection decided to block ChatGPT, an AI-based chatbot. The reason for the ban was a data leak and the lack of control over the use of chat by children.

This is stated in the regulator's message. According to the decision, Italy has temporarily restricted the processing of local users' data by the American company OpenAI, which developed and manages the ChatGPT platform.

The reason for this step was the leakage of ChatGPT users' data on March 20, which resulted in the free access to information about requests and bank card numbers, as well as personal messages of paid subscribers of the service.

"In this regard, the Data Protection Authority emphasises the insufficient informing of users and all interested parties whose data is collected by OpenAI, but above all, the lack of a legal framework that would justify the mass collection and storage of personal data for the purpose of "training" the algorithms underlying the platform," the regulator said in a statement.

Other complaints include the lack of control over the use of chat by children under the age of 13, and the fact that ChatGPT periodically provides information that does not correspond to actual data.

OpenAI has 20 days to respond to the decision of the Italian authorities. If it fails to do so, it faces a fine of 4% of its annual turnover or €20 million, whichever is greater.

Thus, Italy has become the first country to take restrictive measures against the chatbot, which has been growing rapidly in popularity in recent years.

OpenAI has not yet commented on the blocking.

As a reminder, ChatGPT was developed by OpenAI, a research lab that studies artificial intelligence. Elon Musk is among its co-owners.

The chatbot is able to generate texts on given topics and answer questions in an understandable language, do homework for students, and pass exams successfully. It is considered to be the most professional of its kind, although it can give false and biased answers.

ChatGPT has already been nicknamed the "killer of professions": The media predict that it will replace dozens of professions and put millions of people out of work.

As reported by OBOZREVATEL, in February ChatGPT became available in Ukraine.

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