A Vienna-based privacy campaign group, NOYB (“None of Your Business”), announced on Monday that they plan to file a complaint against ChatGPT in Austria. The group claimed that the flagship AI tool, known for providing hallucinating answers, invents incorrect responses that even its creator OpenAI cannot correct.
NOYB expressed concerns that there is no way to guarantee the accuracy of the information generated by the program. Despite this acknowledgment, OpenAI has not provided clarity on the source of the data or what information ChatGPT stores about individuals.
The campaign group highlighted an incident where ChatGPT provided incorrect information about the birth date of NOYB founder Max Schrems instead of informing users that it lacked the necessary data. OpenAI reportedly refused to correct or remove the inaccurate data, claiming it was impossible to do so. Additionally, the company failed to adequately respond to Schrems’s request to access 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. Italy temporarily blocked the program in March 2023, and France initiated an investigation following complaints. In response to these issues, a European working group has been established to enhance coordination on AI regulation, although organizations like NOYB remain skeptical about the effectiveness of authorities in regulating AI.
Maartje de Graaf, a data protection lawyer at NOYB, emphasized the importance of technology complying with legal requirements. She argued that inaccuracies in the data produced by ChatGPT are unacceptable, especially when it comes to personal information.
EU law mandates that personal data must be accurate, and if a system cannot consistently produce reliable and transparent results, it should not be used to generate data about individuals.
OpenAI has not addressed these concerns adequately despite being aware of them for some time now.
Therefore, NOYB decided to take legal action against OpenAI for their failure to comply with EU regulations.
The incident involving Max Schrems highlights how important it is for companies developing AI tools to ensure that they are producing accurate and reliable results when dealing with sensitive personal information.
In conclusion, while ChatGPT may be impressive in its ability to generate text quickly and efficiently, it is crucial for companies developing such tools to prioritize accuracy and transparency when dealing with personal information. Failure to do so could lead legal actions similar to those taken by NOYB against OpenAI.