Privacy rights group NOYB has filed a complaint against OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot with Austrian data protection authorities. The complaint alleges that ChatGPT violated EU privacy regulations by failing to correct inaccurate information it generated about an individual.
According to NOYB, the unnamed complainant, a public figure, queried ChatGPT about their birthday. Instead of admitting it lacked the information, the chatbot provided incorrect dates repeatedly. The complaint further alleges that OpenAI refused to rectify the mistake, claiming it was technically impossible to edit the AI’s outputs. Additionally, NOYB claims OpenAI failed to disclose details about how the data is processed, its sources, or where it goes.
This incident centers around the “right to rectification” enshrined in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a cornerstone of EU data privacy laws. The GDPR grants individuals the right to have inaccurate personal information corrected. NOYB argues that by providing false information and refusing to fix it, ChatGPT breached GDPR.
ChatGPT, known for its ability to hold conversations and complete tasks like writing different kinds of creative content, has taken the world by storm. However, its proneness to factual errors has raised concerns. This complaint highlights the potential clash between powerful AI models and data privacy regulations, particularly regarding the accuracy of information they generate.
The Austrian data protection authority will now investigate the complaint and determine if OpenAI has indeed violated GDPR. This case has significant implications for the future of large language models and how they handle user data within the strict framework of EU regulations.
