European privacy watchdog creates working group on ChatGPT

The body that brings together European national privacy regulators announced on Thursday the creation of a working group on ChatGPTa first step towards a common I privacy standard setting policyartificial intelligence (AI).

The decision of the European Data Protection Board (CEPD) comes after Italy last month took a unilateral move to curb ChatGPT, a move the German Data Protection Commissioner says could be followed in Europe’s biggest economy.

The Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) announced this Thursday that it would also open a preliminary investigation into possible data breaches by ChatGPT.

ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence program that gained public attention for its ability to type quick responses, has grown to be the fastest growing consumer app ever, with more than 100 million monthly active users, but has raised questions about security, privacy and employment.

Experts, the US government and other European governments have also raised concerns about the rapid growth in adoption of ChatGPT and similar AI products.

EDPB members discussed the recent enforcement action taken by the Italian data protection authority against OpenAI over the Chat GPT service,” the statement said.

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“The EDPB decided to set up a specific working group to foster cooperation and exchange information on possible coercive measures carried out by data protection authorities.”

A source at a national watchdog who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak to the media said member states hoped to align their positions but this would take time.

The source said that the member states were not looking to punish or make rules that affect the owner of OpenAI, ChatGPT, backed by Microsoft Corp, but to create general policies that “are transparent”.