Vienna-based privacy campaign group NOYB announced on Monday that they plan to file a complaint against OpenAI’s flagship AI tool, ChatGPT, in Austria. They claim that the program, known for its ability to provide hallucinating answers, invents incorrect responses even its creator cannot correct. The group expressed concerns about the accuracy of information generated by the program and argued that inaccuracies in personal data are unacceptable under EU law.
NOYB lawyer Maartje de Graaf emphasized the importance of technology complying with legal requirements. The campaign group highlighted an incident where ChatGPT provided incorrect information about NOYB founder Max Schrems’ birthdate instead of informing users it lacked necessary data. OpenAI reportedly refused to correct or remove the inaccurate data, claiming it was impossible to do so.
Furthermore, OpenAI failed to adequately respond to Schrems’ request for his personal data, further violating EU laws. Since its introduction in November 2022, ChatGPT has garnered attention for its impressive capabilities in generating text quickly. However, concerns and criticisms surrounding the technology have led to legal actions in various countries such as Italy temporarily blocking the program and France initiating an investigation following complaints.
In response to these issues, a European working group has been established to enhance coordination on AI regulation. However, organizations like NOYB remain skeptical about the effectiveness of authorities in regulating AI.
The campaign group argued that there is no way to guarantee the accuracy of information generated by ChatGPT. Despite this acknowledgment by OpenAI, they have not provided clarity on the source of data or what information ChatGPT stores about individuals.
NOYB claimed that it is unacceptable when it comes to personal information as EU law mandates that personal data must be accurate. If a system cannot consistently produce reliable and transparent results, it should not be used to generate data about individuals.
The incident with Max Schrems highlights how ChatGPT can lead to errors and violations of privacy rights. The campaign group urged OpenAI to take steps towards improving their technology’s accuracy and transparency before any further action is taken against them.
The debate over AI regulation continues as nations struggle with balancing technological innovation with protecting individual privacy rights.