Trento, an Italian city, has been fined €50,000 ($54,373) for misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in two scientific research projects. The projects involved the use of AI in cameras, microphones, and social networks, which violated data protection legislation. The fine was issued by the Italian Data Protection Authority, making Trento the first city in Italy to receive such a penalty. While the municipality is considering an appeal, it acknowledges the need for improved regulations surrounding AI use.
The Italian government has been actively engaging with AI developments. In March 2023, Italy placed a temporary ban on OpenAI’s AI chatbot ChatGPT due to concerns over transparency. The ban was lifted after OpenAI complied with local regulations. In May 2023, Italy established a multimillion-dollar fund to support workers at risk of being replaced by AI technologies. Furthermore, the government initiated an investigation into security practices of public and private websites to prevent AI data scraping.
Italy has also prioritized AI regulation and plans to address the issue while holding the G7 presidency in June. Overall, the case of Trento highlights the challenges of upholding data protection laws in the context of rapidly advancing AI technologies and the need for comprehensive regulations to ensure ethical and responsible AI use.