Guarante, Italy's data protection authority, plans to review other artificial intelligence (AI) platforms and recruit AI experts. This was explained by a top official at the institution. They want to increase surveillance of powerful technology after temporarily banning ChatGPT in March.
Garante is one of the most proactive national data protection authorities among 31 countries overseeing the privacy regime of European data known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
The agency was the first to ban AI chatbot company Replica from imposing fines on face recognition software maker Clearview AI and restricting TikTok in Europe.
In March, they temporarily banned the ChatGPT bot backed by Microsoft Corp from OpenAI and launched an investigation into alleged violations of privacy rules by the app.
"We plan to start a broad review of the generative AI application and online machine learning because we want to understand whether these new tools address issues related to data protection and privacy law compliance - and we will start a new investigation, if needed," said Agostino Ghiglia, Garante board member.
ChatGPT's success ad reports have prompted major tech companies such as Alphabet Inc. and Meta Platform Inc., to promote their own versions, and policymakers and governments around the world are considering new laws that may take years to enforce.
"We are looking for three AI advisers because we are aware that AI tools are developing very quickly and we need experts with technological backgrounds to assist us in our data protection activities," Ghiglia said.
This step is the latest example of how some regulators rely on existing laws to control technology that can change the way people and businesses operate.
The Garante council, which consists of four members, consists of legal experts. Ghiglia said the authorities had 144 staff, well below European counterparts in France, Spain, and the United Kingdom. "Most of them have legal backgrounds," Ghiglia said.
In their action against ChatGPT, Garante uses GDPR provisions, especially those that protect minors and give individuals the right to request the removal and objection to the use of their personal data.
After Garante took steps, the ChatGPT maker, OpenAI, made changes to their chatbots to comply with regulations.
"Members of Garante council often know the potential violations of privacy laws because we are simply exploring digital tools and applications once they are available," Ghiglia said. "We are exploring ChatGPT and realizing that it is not in accordance with EU data privacy rules."
It took years for a new legislative potential that regulates AI to apply. "That's why we decided to act quickly with ChatGPT," said Ghiglia.
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