New Delhi: OpenAI has restored access to the ChatGPT service in Italy after the country banned AI chatbots in response to an order from the local data protection authority over user data concerns. Microsoft-backed OpenAI “addressed or clarified” issues raised by the Italian Data Protection Authority (or GPDP) in late March, The Verge reports.
“ChatGPT is available again to our users in Italy. We are excited to welcome them back and we are dedicated to protecting their privacy,” the company said in a statement. ,Also Read: Apple Store India Employee Salary, Educational Qualification & Other Details,
Users in the European Union may submit a new form to request deletion of personal data under Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). A new tool will also verify users’ age when they sign up in Italy. ,Also Read: Planning To Buy The New Vivo X90 Pro? 10 things you should know,
Earlier this month, OpenAI blocked access to its AI chatbot ChatGPT in Italy. “We regret to inform you that we have disabled ChatGPT for users in Italy at the request of Italian Garantee,” OpenAI said in a letter.
In the order, Italian regulator Garante said it is concerned that the ChatGPT maker is in breach of the EU GDPR, claiming that OpenAI illegally processed data of Italian citizens.
“There is no way ChatGPT can continue to process data in breach of privacy laws. The Italian SA has imposed an immediate temporary limit on the processing of Italian users’ data by OpenAI, the US-based company that develops and manages the platform. An inquiry was also initiated into the facts of the matter,” the regulator said.
Furthermore, the company also asked to refund the amount to all users in Italy who had purchased ChatGPT Plus subscriptions in March. OpenAI acknowledged late last month that a bug could have exposed some users’ payment information when ChatGPT was taken offline.
According to OpenAI, the company took ChatGPT offline due to a bug in the open-source library that allowed some users to view titles from another active user’s chat history.