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It’s no secret that ChatGPT’s conversational and problem-solving skills have made it an essential tool for many individuals and professionals. However, Italians recently lost access to the chatbot following a ban imposed by the country’s data protection authority over privacy concerns. As a result, VPN usage in Italy has surged by 400% as users seek to bypass the ban and maintain their access to ChatGPT.
According to AtlasVPN, a secure VPN software, the surge in VPN usage is an example of how users respond to restrictions placed on their access to online services and the measures they take to maintain access to them. Moreover, Google Trends also registered a similar spike, with Italians searching for the word “VPN” 600 times more than usual.
Why did Italy ban the Chatbot?
The Italian Privacy Guarantor accused OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, of improperly collecting and storing Italians’ data and consequently breaching GDPR. Additionally, the Garante also raised concerns about the software exposing minors to harmful content due to the lack of suitable age verification procedures. As a result, OpenAI now has 20 days to address these concerns, or the company could face a fine of up to €20 million or 4% of its annual worldwide turnover.
OpenAI, on the other hand, has rejected these allegations and expressed its commitment to protecting users’ privacy by minimizing the collection of personal data. “We also believe that AI regulation is necessary, so we look forward to working closely with the Garante and educating them on how our systems are built and used,” says an OpenAI spokesperson. In addition, the company has announced a refund for all Italian users who had subscribed to its premium plan while halting subscription renewals in the country.
Furthermore, the Italian government’s decision to ban the chatbot has also sparked concerns among other EU countries, including France, Germany, and Ireland, which are closely monitoring the situation. Nonetheless, for the time being, using a VPN is the only option for Italians who want to access ChatGPT.
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