ChatGPT's "hallucinations" will be scrutinised by European regulators

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The non-profit privacy organisation noyb (None of Your Business) has filed a complaint against OpenAI with the Austrian regulator over the ChatGPT chatbot's inability to correct the misinformation it generates about real people.

Here's What We Know

The complaint on behalf of an unnamed complainant alleges that ChatGPT provided an incorrect date of birth about him. When the complainant asked OpenAI to correct the erroneous data as required by the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the company responded that it was technically unable to do so.

According to noyb, OpenAI is violating the rights of European citizens as set out in the GDPR, including the right to correct incorrect information about themselves. The organisation is calling on regulators to fine the company and enforce the law in the future.

The propensity of generative AI systems to produce misleading data about people has already attracted the attention of EU supervisory authorities. In 2023, the Italian data protection authority suspended ChatGPT due to similar claims.

Complaints of GDPR violations are also currently being considered in Poland. The regulatory risk for OpenAI is heightened by the opening of multiple investigations in different EU countries.

Despite the company's claims that it is complying with the rules, noyb representatives believe that the existing restrictions when dealing with personal data make ChatGPT in its current form incompatible with European legislation.

Source: TechCrunch