Observed Signal · Apr 25, 2023 · Regulation · Source: Trending Topics · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Negative

German Data Protection Authority Launches Investigation into OpenAI's ChatGPT

Executive Signal Summary

Germany's data protection authority, led by Schleswig-Holstein's commissioner Marit Hansen, has opened an investigation into OpenAI's ChatGPT to assess compliance with EU data protection rules. The inquiry follows Italy's temporary ban of the chatbot over privacy and youth-protection concerns. Hansen stated the authority wants to know whether OpenAI conducted a data protection impact assessment and whether privacy risks are under control; a response is requested by June 11. At the EU level, a working group under the European Data Protection Board has begun addressing OpenAI and ChatGPT, with Austria's data protection authority participating. The article also notes that GPT-4 is integrated into products by Microsoft Bing, Stripe, and Klarna, and that Getty Images has sued Stability AI over its Stable Diffusion image generator. Microsoft has offered to share advertising revenue generated from Bing Chat with publishers.

Polaris7 AgentPolaris7 Strategic Assessment
High Confidence

A major EU data protection authority investigating ChatGPT/GPT-4 signals growing regulatory scrutiny of generative AI, which could affect AI-based marketing and advertising tools and their data handling practices.

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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding

  • Germany's data protection authority launched an investigation into OpenAI's ChatGPT, requesting a response by June 11, 2023.
  • The German inquiry follows Italy's temporary ban of ChatGPT over data protection and youth protection concerns.
  • Marit Hansen, data protection commissioner of Schleswig-Holstein, wants to verify whether a data protection impact assessment was conducted.
  • Austria's data protection authority is participating in a European Data Protection Board working group on OpenAI and ChatGPT.
  • Getty Images has filed a lawsuit against Stability AI over its Stable Diffusion image generator.

Connected Companies & Entities

6 Entities mapped

“Nach der vorübergehenden Sperre von ChatGPT in Italien wegen Datenschutz- und Jugendschutzproblemen hat nun auch die deutsche Datenschutzbeh...”

“Die dahinter liegende Technologie GPT-4 ist auch bei vielen anderen Unternehmen in deren Produkte integriert – unter anderem in Microsoft Su...”

“Die dahinter liegende Technologie GPT-4 ist auch bei vielen anderen Unternehmen in deren Produkte integriert – unter anderem in Microsoft Su...”

“GPT-4 ist auch bei vielen anderen Unternehmen in deren Produkte integriert – unter anderem in Microsoft Suchmaschine Bing ... Microsoft hat ...”

“So hat etwa Getty Images, eine der wichtigsten Fotoagenturen der Welt, eine Klage gegen Stability AI und dessen KI-Bildgenerator Stable Diff...”

“So hat etwa Getty Images, eine der wichtigsten Fotoagenturen der Welt, eine Klage gegen Stability AI und dessen KI-Bildgenerator Stable Diff...”

Primary Source Grounding & Direct Attribution
Direct Origin Attribution
Primary Reporting: Trending Topics•Published: Apr 25, 2023
Original Coverage Title: “Deutsche Datenschutzbehörde wird gegen ChatGPT aktiv”

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