Japan Warns OpenAI on Data Collecting: Privacy Watchdog Threatens Further Action
Overview
• Japan’s Personal Information Protection Commission has issued a statement to OpenAI warning against collecting sensitive data without permission.
• The Japanese government submitted a draft from its AI strategy council on May 26, raising concerns over the lack of regulations for AI.
• A recent poll showed that 69.4% of surveyed Japanese would like stricter regulations in place for AI development.
Regulators Tightening Stance On AI
Japan is beginning to take action regarding artificial intelligence (AI) after its local privacy watchdog warned ChatGPT’s parent company, OpenAI, about its data collection methods. The Personal Information Protection Commission stated that OpenAI should minimize the sensitive data it collects and not do so without people’s permission while still allowing room for innovation and potential benefits of AI. However, if any further issues arise, the commission is prepared to take further action. This follows the government submitting a draft from its AI strategy council on May 26 which raised concerns over the lack of regulations for AI and risks posed to society and lawmaker Takashi Kii pushing for copyright holders protection from infringement by algorithms used in AI technology.
OpenAI Banned In Italy
In March, ChatGPT was temporarily banned from Italy after scrutiny of its security protocols from Italian regulators sparked waves of uncertainty worldwide. Several countries began probing into the technology as Japan voiced support for OpenAI with Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno saying Japan would consider incorporating AI technology into government systems only if privacy and security issues were adequately addressed.
Poll Results Support Regulation Of AI
An April 30 poll revealed that 69.4% of surveyed Japanese would like stricter regulations in place for AI development, showing growing public desire towards increased regulation of AI technology associated with OpenAI specifically as well as other companies developing similar technologies in general.
OpenAI’s Popularity In Japan
Data from Similarweb showed Japan to be in third place for traffic to OpenAI’s site, indicating strong interest amongst people there despite growing regulatory pressures relating to data collection and privacy protection measures being implemented by authorities in response to it.
