Germany Could Block ChatGPT Over Data Security Concerns

Germany could block ChatGPT over data security concerns, the German Commisssioner for data protection, Ulrich Kelber told the Handelsblatt newspaper on Monday.

The European country could follow in Italy's footsteps to scrapping the ChatGPT.

Microsoft-backed OpenAI took ChatGPT offline in Italy on Friday after the national data agency banned the chatbot temporarily.

It also launched an investigation into a suspected breach of privacy rules by the artificial intelligence application.

"In principle, such action is also possible in Germany," Kelber said, adding that this would fall under state jurisdiction.

Kelber said that Germany has requested further information from Italy on its ban.

Privacy watchdogs in France and Ireland said they had also contacted the Italian data regulator to discuss its findings.

The Italian investigation into OpenAI was launched after a cybersecurity breach last week led to people being shown excerpts of other users' ChatGPT conversations and their financial information.