OpenAI restores ChatGPT service in Italy

San Francisco: OpenAI has restored access to the ChatGPT service in Italy. Indeed, 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 company said in a statement, “ChatGPT is available again for our users in Italy. We are excited to welcome them back and we are dedicated to protecting their privacy.”

EU users can 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. 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 the Italian guarantee,” OpenAI said in a letter.

In the order, Italian regulator Garante said the ChatGPT maker is concerned about a breach of the EU GDPR, claiming that OpenAI illegally processed data of Italian citizens. The regulator said, “There is no way that ChatGPT can continue to process data in violation 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. Investigation into the facts of the case has been initiated.”

In addition, the company also asked for a refund to all users in Italy who had purchased the ChatGPT Plus subscription 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, which allowed some users to view titles from another active user’s chat history.