ChatGPT is blocked in Italy, and a class action lawsuit is filed in Israel

by time news

The Italian Data Protection Authority has decided to block the ChatGPT artificial intelligence service for at least 20 days. According to the Authority, known as Granta, OpenAI’s Chabot is suspected of endangering minors and violating user privacy rules used in the European Union. Italy is the first European country to announce such a move, although it is certainly possible that it will not be the last – supporters of a similar move are also heard in Ireland, and in the country they announce that their intention is to examine in depth the claims made in Italy, and to check whether it is necessary to extend them to the entire continent.

In Italy, there are concerns about the way ChatGPT stores information about the users, especially in light of the reports of a leak of information concerning user conversations and payment methods about two weeks ago. In addition, the regulators in Italy believe that OpenAI does not make any effort to ensure that the users are not at least 13 years old, and therefore it also collects information about them – an act that is prohibited by law in the European Union.

This is also the background for filing a class action lawsuit in Israel, which according to the plaintiffs is the first in the world, against OpenAI. The claim was filed on behalf of a young user, whose name does not appear in the claim document due to being a minor, who according to the description is able to very easily open a user account without OpenAI verifying his age. In this way, minor users may be exposed to inappropriate content.

“This is illegal and promiscuous conduct by the company, especially in light of the fact that the company itself admits that ChatGPT sometimes provides incorrect answers and false and negative content since it currently has no source of truth,” according to the lawsuit.

The Israeli lawsuit is supposed to be conducted in the district court in Lod, although it is still unclear whether the court will contain its authority regarding OpenAI as an American company. Along with the pressure for greater supervision of ChatGPT, it is also possible to mention the letter of Elon Musk and other executives in the industry calling for a halt to any new development in the field for at least six months.

report this ad

You may also like

Leave a Comment