Italy privacy watchdog fines Character.AI owner over age-check failures
Tweet
Share
E-mail
FILE PHOTO: AI (Artificial Intelligence) letters and robot hand miniature in this illustration taken, June 23, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration//File Photo
ROME, July 9 (Reuters) - Italy's data protection authority fined Character Technologies, the U.S.-based owner of generative AI platform Character.AI, €158,000 ($180,500) for breaches of data protection rules, it said on Thursday in a statement.
The service allows users, including minors, to chat with AI-generated virtual characters.
• The regulator found several privacy violations, including shortcomings in information provided to users about the processing of their personal data.
• The authority also raised concerns about safeguards for minors and the effectiveness of age-verification procedures, saying further protections were needed beyond those already in place.
• Character Technologies did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
• The authority, known as Garante, also said the company was late in conducting a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) and appointing an EU representative.
• The Garante has been one of the most proactive regulators in Europe on AI. In 2023, it briefly banned the use of OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot over age-check and data collection issues.
($1 = 0.8754 euros)
(Writing by Francesca Piscioneri, editing by Alvise Armellini)
Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!
You May Also Be Interested In
- Iraqi prime minister to visit Washington on Monday; oil and gas deals expected
- Former Qatar ruler Sheikh Hamad, a moderniser who seized power, has died
- Typhoon Bavi batters eastern China, threatens days of heavy rain
Create E-mail Alert Related Categories
ReutersSign up for StreetInsider Free!
Receive full access to all new and archived articles, unlimited portfolio tracking, e-mail alerts, custom newswires and RSS feeds - and more!
