OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, has restored access to its service in Italy, saying it has implemented changes to please Italian regulators. “ChatGPT is once again available for our users in Italy,” it said in a statement posted by it. the News agency And also sent to the edge. “We are excited to welcome them back, and we remain committed to protecting their privacy.”
OpenAI said it had “addressed or clarified” issues raised by the Italian Data Protection Authority (or GPDP) in late March. GPDP accused ChatGPT of illegally collecting users’ data and failing to prevent underage users from accessing inappropriate material, prompting OpenAI to ban ChatGPT in the country. The company was given 20 days to address the issues, and regulators said in mid-April that ChatGPT could return if it did so by April 30.
Among the changes, OpenAI hookup the edge to a new form EU users can submit to remove personal data under Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It also says that a new tool will verify users’ ages when registering in Italy, and has published a Help Center article detailing how OpenAI and ChatGPT collect personal information, including information about contacting a data protection officer authorized by the GDPR.
GPDP did not immediately respond to a request for comment the edge. In a statement published APHe Said It “welcomes the measures implemented by OpenAI”, and urged OpenAI to comply with further changes to age verification and a publicity campaign to inform Italians of their right to opt out of data collection.
So far, none of these changes seem to significantly modify how ChatGPT works in Italy. But OpenAI will certainly face more challenges. Spain, Canada and other countries have opened or are considering opening investigations into their practices, including how they collect training data for their large language model and what information that model produces for users. And European lawmakers are working to develop AI law, which could add additional requirements for companies like OpenAI — potentially including some important new information disclosures.