Irish Data Protection Commission Holds Up Launch
According to a statement from the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), Google has delayed the planned launch of its generative AI chatbot, Bard, in the European Union. The development comes after OpenAI launched a free research preview of its rival chatbot, ChatGPT, without applying limits on where in the world internet users could access it.
Lack of Information from Google
DPC deputy commissioner Graham Doyle said that Google "recently" informed the authority of its intention to launch Bard in the EU this week. However, he stated that the tech giant had not provided the regulator with adequate information ahead of the planned date and a launch would not now happen in the intended timeframe.
"The DPC had not had any detailed briefing nor sight of a DPIA [data protection impact assessment] or any supporting documentation at this point," Doyle said. "It has since sought this information as a matter of urgency and has raised a number of additional data protection questions with Google to which it awaits a response, and Bard will not now launch this week."
Europeans Already Accessible
There’s no word on when a Bard EU launch might now take place. However, it’s worth noting that Europeans have already been able to freely use similar large language model (LLM) technology for months since OpenAI did not limit access to its ChatGPT research preview. Google’s Bard is also trivially easy for users in the region to access if they use a VPN with a location set to the U.S. or another market where the tool is available.
DPC Raises Concerns
The DPC has raised several data protection concerns attached to Bard, including:
- The legal basis claimed for processing people’s data to train LLM AI models
- Compliance with transparency requirements baked into regional privacy laws
- How developers approach other problematic issues like AI-generated disinformation and addressing child safety issues
- Providing EU users with their personal data and not using it to train AIs
Google’s Response
Google has responded to the concerns, stating that they have been talking with privacy regulators to address their questions and hear feedback. The company has also added that they are committed to ensuring that their products meet the highest standards of data protection.
Related Stories
- ChatGPT Resumes Service in Italy After Adding Privacy Disclosures and Controls
- How to Ask OpenAI for Your Personal Data to Be Deleted or Not Used to Train Its AIs
- France’s Privacy Watchdog Eyes Protection Against Data Scraping in AI Action Plan
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