ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot developed by OpenAI, is now available in Italy after its suspension over privacy concerns.
The Italian regulator, Garante, temporarily halted operations of the AI-powered service in the country due to issues with data protection of users. But this time, with the updated version of ChatGPT, which fixes these privacy issues, it is up and running in Italy again.
ChatGPT AI is Back in Italy
As per a report by BBC, ChatGPT has taken the world by storm since it debuted late last year or in November 2022, with millions of daily users. The AI language model by OpenAI lets users do all sorts of things, from coding to content creation, using a few prompts.
Since then, various generative AI platforms have emerged in the mainstream, like Dall-E and Midjourney.
With the burgeoning AI tech starting to make waves, some regulators, including the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC), are getting concerned about some issues. And one of the first countries to ban an AI-powered chatbot is Italy.
However, after a few weeks of being unavailable in the country, ChatGPT is back at it again.
Engadget notes that OpenAI formally confirms that the chatbot it developed is now accessible to users in Italy again. The Microsoft-backed tech firm is excited to welcome back its users after the temporary hiatus. Furthermore, the company assures that they continue to protect their users' privacy.
New Privacy Fixes for ChatGPT
Shortly after its comeback in Italy, OpenAI dished out new features on ChatGPT, which boosts the privacy protection of its users. Users may now hide the "Data Controls." They could also turn off "History Chat & Training."
Besides the additional privacy controls, the Italian version of the chatbot now sets it apart from other countries. It now rocks a pop-up as it welcomes back its users. They now have to confirm their age before proceeding to use the platform.
Why Was ChatGPT Suspended in Italy?
According to our friends from Tech Times, the Italian regulator raised privacy issues on ChatGPT amid the popularity of the OpenAI chatbot. And while the concern is still under investigation, its officials have ordered the suspension of the operation of the AI-powered tool in the country.
The Italian regulators point out that the training methods of the chatbot might be against the General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union or the GDPR.
On top of that, Garante also asked OpenAI to include a disclosure of privacy for its users on its website, which should tell them how their data are collected on the platform and how it is used to train the language model.
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