"European privacy watchdog creates ChatGPT task force", 13 April 2023

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 ...that it too would launch a preliminary investigation into potential data breaches by ChatGPT.

"The EDPB decided to launch a dedicated task force to foster cooperation and to exchange information on possible enforcement actions conducted by data protection 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.

The source said member states were not seeking to punish or make rules that will affect Microsoft Corp-backed (MSFT.O) ChatGPT 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.

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