OpenAI, the developer behind ChatGPT, has been hit with a €15 million fine by Italy’s data protection authority (Garante) following a probe into the company's data protection practices. The investigation, which began in March 2023, revealed a series of alleged violations, including insufficient transparency, the use of personal data without an adequate legal basis, and the lack of proper age verification mechanisms. This fine, coupled with a mandated six-month public education campaign, highlights the increasing regulatory scrutiny faced by AI platforms in Europe, particularly under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Key Findings from the Investigation Data Privacy Violations OpenAI processed users' personal data to train ChatGPT without establishing a sufficient legal basis. The company failed to adequately inform users and non-users about data collection practices, violating GDPR principles of transparency. Age Verification Issues ChatGPT lacked robust mechanism...