OpenAI, a startup supported by Microsoft, faces a privacy complaint from the European Center for Digital Rights (NOYB), an advocacy group, for allegedly failing to address incorrect information provided by its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, which could violate the EU privacy regulations. ChatGPT, renowned for its ability to mimic human conversation and perform various tasks, including summarising texts and generating ideas, has been scrutinised after reportedly providing inaccurate responses to queries about a public figure's birthday.

NOYB claims that despite the complainant's requests, OpenAI refused to rectify or erase the erroneous data, citing technical limitations. Additionally, the group alleges that OpenAI did not disclose crucial information regarding data processing, sources, or recipients, prompting NOYB to file a complaint with the data protection authority in Austria.

According to NOYB's data protection lawyer, Maartje de Graaf, the incident underscores the challenge of ensuring compliance with the EU law when processing individuals' data using chatbots like ChatGPT. She emphasised the necessity for technology to adhere to legal requirements rather than vice versa.

OpenAI has previously acknowledged ChatGPT's tendency to provide plausible yet incorrect responses, citing it as a complex issue. However, NOYB's complaint highlights the urgency for companies to ensure the accuracy and transparency of personal data processed by large language models like ChatGPT.