2nd June 2023 – (Tokyo) The Personal Information Protection Commission (PPC) of Japan has issued a warning to OpenAI, the Microsoft-backed provider of the ChatGPT app, regarding the collection of users’ and third-party data in its machine learning process. The PPC has instructed OpenAI to refrain from collecting personal information that requires special care from ChatGPT users and other parties.
OpenAI’s Chief Executive, Sam Altman, had visited Japan’s Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, in April and announced plans to expand services in the country. This was ahead of the Group of Seven (G7) leaders’ summit where Kishida led discussions on international artificial intelligence regulation.
The PPC’s warning to OpenAI is in line with Japan’s strict data protection laws, which require companies to obtain explicit consent from individuals before collecting and using their personal information. The PPC has been closely monitoring the use of artificial intelligence in Japan, and this warning to OpenAI highlights the importance of ensuring that personal data is protected in the development and deployment of AI technologies.