Ban artificial intelligence in Germany? Politicians argue about how to use ChatGPT

After ChatGPT was banned in Italy, this is also being discussed in this country. However, politicians from all major parties reject the general ban.

After ChatGPT was banned in Italy, controversial AI text handling is also being discussed in this country. ChatGPT generates scripts independently with the help of AI and evaluates large amounts of data.

While the federal data protection officer considers banning AI chatbots in Germany possible, Unionist and Green digital politicians favor a less radical path.

In an interview with T Online, Green parliamentary group leader Konstantin von Notz called for reducing the “risks of using artificial intelligence”. According to von Notz, measures are needed to ensure transparent and non-discriminatory performance.

The legislature must “act quickly and establish guidelines to ensure that this technology is only used within a constitutional framework.” If there are indications of legal violations, the supervisory authorities will have to intervene constantly.

Bavaria’s Minister for Digital, Judith Gerlach, supports concerted action on this issue. In an online interview, she said, “With rapidly evolving technologies like artificial intelligence, we need the right regulation” to protect people.

However, at the same time, this should not prevent any innovations. “We need regulation that encourages innovation and allows competition with the big global tech companies,” says Gerlach.

If we are completely closed to technological innovations as in Italy, they will be developed elsewhere. “We should not leave the development of key technologies to US companies or developers from China alone,” said Gerlach.

Meanwhile, Grenz digital expert and member of the Bundestag’s digital committee, Tobias Pacherl, is calling for mandatory labeling of AI content.

In an interview with t-online, Bacherle said: “In the short term, I think it makes sense to use ChatGPT and other AI-based support tools – initially as a voluntary commitment, and in the medium term as a clear rule.”

Anyone who uses AI to facilitate their work remains responsible for the outcome, says Bacherle, and should therefore check it out. “I also think it makes sense to have rating requirements for AI-powered content.”

The Federal Digital Ministry Volker Wessing had previously rejected such a move in Italy. “We don’t need bans on AI applications, but we do need ways to ensure values ​​like democracy and transparency,” a spokesperson for the ministry told Handelsblatt. Europe must become the “global leader in trustworthy AI”.

Stefan Brink, a former data protection officer for the state of Baden-Württemberg, also criticized the Italian approach to the paper. He said that AI regularly uses personal data for training purposes. “However, to the extent that data is obtained from the Internet, the legitimate interests of developers regularly outweigh the protection needs of those affected.”

In Italy, the national data protection authority banned ChatGPT last Friday for data protection reasons. The authority said the app’s developer, US company OpenAI, is only allowed to process data of Italian internet users “with immediate effect” to a limited extent. ChatGPT has not complied with the data protection and youth protection rules.