ChatGPT Restored in Italy Following New Privacy and Age Checks
OpenAI restores ChatGPT access for Italian users after implementing age-gating and transparency features demanded by the local data protection authority.
ChatGPT is available again to users in Italy after OpenAI implements new privacy controls and age-gating measures. Italian web users no longer see a disabled message and instead face a prompt requiring them to confirm they are 18 or older, or between 13 and 17 with parental consent. The company also provides direct links to its privacy policy and an article explaining how it trains its AI models.
This restoration resolves a temporary suspension issued by Italy's data protection authority, known as the Garante, which had previously accused OpenAI of breaching European data protection laws. The regulator forces OpenAI to geoblock Italian IP addresses earlier in April until the startup agrees to a specific list of required changes.
Despite the service resuming, the Garante continues its formal investigation into ChatGPT's compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation. This local Italian probe occurs alongside a broader coordinated effort by European regulators, who recently form a dedicated task force to investigate and potentially enforce rules against the popular AI chatbot across the entire bloc.