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Italy fines OpenAI 15 million euros over privacy rules breach

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on December 20, 2024

1 min read

· Last updated: January 27, 2026

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MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's privacy watchdog said on Friday it fined ChatGPT maker OpenAI 15 million euros ($15.58 million) after closing an investigation into use of personal data by the generative

Italy Imposes €15M Fine on OpenAI for Privacy Breach

MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's privacy watchdog said on Friday it fined ChatGPT maker OpenAI 15 million euros ($15.58 million) after closing an investigation into use of personal data by the generative artificial intelligence application.

The authority, known as Garante, is one of the European Union's most proactive regulators in assessing AI platform compliance with the bloc's data privacy regime.

The Garante said it found OpenAI processed users' personal data "to train ChatGPT without having an adequate legal basis and violated the principle of transparency and the related information obligations towards users".

OpenAI had no immediate comment on Friday. It has previously said it believes its practices are aligned with the European Union's privacy laws.

Last year the Italian watchdog briefly banned the use of ChatGPT in Italy over alleged breaches of EU privacy rules.

The service was reactivated after Microsoft-backed OpenAI addressed issues concerning, among other things, the right of users to refuse consent for the use of personal data to train algorithms.

($1 = 0.9626 euros)

(Reporting by Alessia Pe and Elvira Pollina; Editing by Alvise Armellini and Frances Kerry)

Key Takeaways

  • Italy fines OpenAI €15M over privacy violations.
  • Garante found OpenAI lacked legal basis for data use.
  • ChatGPT's data practices under EU scrutiny.
  • OpenAI previously banned in Italy for privacy issues.
  • Microsoft-backed OpenAI addresses data consent concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main topic?
The article discusses Italy fining OpenAI €15M for breaching privacy rules related to ChatGPT's data usage.
Why was OpenAI fined?
OpenAI was fined for processing personal data without adequate legal basis and violating transparency obligations.
What is Garante?
Garante is Italy's privacy watchdog, known for its proactive role in enforcing EU data privacy regulations.

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