ROME — Matteo Salvini, the Deputy Prime Minister of Italy expressed strong disapproval on Sunday of the recent decision by the Data Protection Authority to impose a temporary ban on the chatbot known as ChatGPT.
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Salvini argued that the blockage was overly stringent, given the concerns surrounding privacy.
OpenAI, a company supported by Microsoft (MSFT.O), decided to take ChatGPT offline in Italy on Friday following the concerns raised by the national data agency. The authority had expressed apprehension over potential privacy breaches and the failure of the chatbot to confirm that its users were above the age of 13, as specifically requested.
The recent move to ban ChatGPT made Italy the first Western country to take action against artificial intelligence.
“I find the decision of the Privacy Watchdog that forced #ChatGPT to prevent access from Italy disproportionate,” Matteo Salvini, who is leader of the ruling coalition League party, wrote on Instagram.
Salvini, who also serves as transport minister, said the regulator’s move was “hypocritical” and that common sense was needed as “privacy issues concern practically all online services”.
