Google's AI model under scrutiny from EU regulators

The European Union has set a probe into Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) model, Pathways Language Model 2 (PaLM2).

Commenced by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC), the investigation aims to determine if Google has adhered to the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

"DPC has commenced a Cross-Border statutory inquiry into Google Ireland Limited (Google) under Section 110 of the Data Protection Act 2018. The statutory inquiry concerns the question of whether Google has complied with any obligations that it may have had to undertake an assessment, pursuant to Article 35[2] of the GDPR (Data Protection Impact Assessment), prior to engaging in the processing of the personal data of EU/EEA data subjects associated with the development of its foundational AI model, Pathways Language Model 2 (PaLM 2)," DPC said.

"This statutory inquiry forms part of the wider efforts of the DPC, working in conjunction with its EU/EEA (European Economic Area) peer regulators, in regulating the processing of the personal data of EU/EEA data subjects in the development of AI models and systems," the statement added.

The investigation led by DPC against Google was initiated on September 12.

Last week, the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union smashed Google's appeal against a 2.42 billion euro fine levied seven years for various anti-competitive practices.

Apart from Google, other tech giants including X and Meta have also been probed by DPC.

Earlier this month, DPC ordered X (previously Twitter) to stop using user data to train its AI chatbot- Grok, until it could verify GDPR compliance. Meta was asked to halt plans to use European users’ content to train its current language model.

In 2022, Italy’s data privacy regulator also temporarily banned ChatGPT due to privacy violations.