On Monday, a Vienna-based privacy campaign group announced plans to file a complaint against ChatGPT in Austria. NOYB (“None of Your Business”) claimed that the flagship AI tool, known for its hallucinating answers, invents incorrect responses even its creator OpenAI cannot correct. The group expressed concerns about the accuracy of information generated by the program and argued that inaccuracies in personal data are unacceptable.
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. Maartje de Graaf, a data protection lawyer at NOYB, emphasized the importance of technology complying with legal requirements.
NOYB 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. However, organizations like NOYB remain skeptical about the effectiveness of authorities in regulating AI.
