# European privacy watchdog creates ChatGPT task force
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2023-04-13
Category: TECHNOLOGY
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/technology
Meta Title: European Privacy Watchdog Establishes ChatGPT Task Force
Meta Description: The EDPB sets up a task force on ChatGPT, a crucial step towards a common policy on AI privacy rules in Europe. Concerns rise over safety, privacy, and job
URL: https://financedigest.com/european-privacy-watchdog-creates-chatgpt-task-forcehtml

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By Toby Sterling

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The body that unites Europe’s national privacy watchdogs said on Thursday it had set up a task force on ChatGPT, a potentially important first step toward a common policy on setting privacy rules on artificial intelligence.

The move by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) follows a unilateral move by Italy last month to curb ChatGPT – a stance that Germany’s commissioner for data protection said could be followed in Europe’s biggest economy. Spain’s AEPD watchdog said on Thursday that it too would launch a preliminary investigation into potential [data breaches](https://www.financedigest.com/10-steps-to-stop-lateral-movement-in-data-breaches.html "10 Steps to Stop Lateral Movement in Data Breaches") by ChatGPT.

ChatGPT, an AI program that grabbed the public’s attention for its ability to write answers quickly to a wide range of queries, has grown to be the fastest-growing consumer application in history with more than 100 [million monthly active users](https://www.financedigest.com/spotifys-monthly-active-users-top-500-million-beat-estimate.html "Spotify’s monthly active users top 500 million, beat estimate"), while raising questions about threats it may pose to safety, privacy and jobs.

Experts, U.S. government and several other [European](https://www.financedigest.com/european-governments-spend-half-a-trillion-euros-on-energy-crisis-report.html "European governments spend half a trillion euros on energy crisis – report") governments have also expressed concern about the rapid growth of adoption of ChatGPT and similar AI products.

The EDPB members discussed the recent enforcement action undertaken by the Italian [data protection](https://www.financedigest.com/finalised-pan-european-data-protection-laws-set-the-new-standard-for-a-privacy-friendly-business-environment.html "Finalised Pan-European data protection laws set the new standard for a ‘privacy-friendly’ business environment") authority against OpenAI about the Chat GPT service,” the statement said.

The EDPB decided to launch a dedicated task force to foster cooperation and to exchange information on possible enforcement actions conducted by [data protection](https://www.financedigest.com/4-steps-you-should-be-taking-to-protect-data.html "4 Steps You Should Be Taking To Protect Data") authorities.

A source at one national watchdog who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak to the media said [member states hoped to align their policy positions but this would take time](https://www.financedigest.com/why-now-is-the-time-to-implement-a-time-saving-business-model-encouraging-team-members-to-discuss-their-challenges.html "Why now is the time to implement a time saving business model, encouraging team members to discuss their challenges").

The source said member states were not seeking to punish or make [rules that will affect Microsoft Corp-backed ChatGPT](https://www.financedigest.com/us-senate-leader-schumer-calls-for-ai-rules-as-chatgpt-surges-in-popularity.html "US Senate leader Schumer calls for AI rules as ChatGPT surges in popularity") owner OpenAI, but rather to create general policies that “are transparent.

They said attendees at Thursday’s meeting included policy experts who presented opinions and exchanged ideas, rather than being [decision makers](https://www.financedigest.com/senior-decision-makers-reveal-people-skills-are-an-employees-most-valuable-asset.html "Senior decision makers reveal people skills are an employee’s most valuable asset").

The EDPB is an independent body that oversees data protection rules in the [European Union](https://www.financedigest.com/explainer-why-malaysia-is-considering-a-ban-on-palm-oil-exports-to-the-european-union.html "Explainer-Why Malaysia is considering a ban on palm oil exports to the European Union"), and it is composed of national data protection watchdogs.

The organization could not immediately be reached for comment.

The discussion of ChatGPT was added to the body’s agenda following a request from Spain to discuss the matter earlier this week.

(Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Alison Williams and David Holmes, Kirsten Donovan)


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