The Italian Data Protection Authority, a local privacy regulator, announced the launch of a “fact-finding” investigation on Nov. 22, in which it will look into the practice of data gathering to train artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms.
The investigation aims to verify the adoption of appropriate security measures on public and private websites to prevent “web scraping” of personal data used for AI training via third parties from “the ‘spiders’ of the manufacturers of artificial intelligence algorithms.”
According to the regulator, this “fact-finding survey” applies to all public and private subjects operating as data controllers, established in Italy, or offering services in Italy that provide freely accessible personal data online.
Although it did not name specific companies, it said that it is “in fact” known that “various AI platforms” scrape the web for the purpose of collecting large quantities of personal data. It said that after the investigation, it would take any necessary measures “even urgently.”
In July, Google was hit with a class-action lawsuit in the United States over its new AI data-scraping privacy policy across its web services for its own AI algorithmic training purposes.
Italian regulators invited AI industry experts, academics and others to participate in the process and share views or comments within 60 days.
The Italian privacy watchdog was one of the first to scrutinize AI after it banned the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT from operating in Italy due to privacy breaches in March 2023. In May, Italy set aside millions of euros in a designated fund for workers at risk of AI replacement.
Earlier this week, Italy, France and Germany entered into an agreement on future AI regulation, according to a joint paper seen by Reuters. The agreement is expected to help further similar negotiations at the European Union level.
The three countries backed the idea of creating voluntary commitments for large and small AI providers in the European Union.
Ms Sultana also said she was “resigning” from the Labour Party after 14 years.
She was suspended as a Labour MP shortly after they came to power last summer for voting against the government maintaining the two-child benefit cap.
Several others from the left of the party, including Mr Corbyn, were also suspended for voting against the government, and also remained as independent MPs.
More on Jeremy Corbyn
Related Topics:
However, Ms Sultana was still a member of the Labour Party – until now.
Mr Corbyn has previously said the independent MPs who were suspended from Labour would “come together” to provide an “alternative.
The other four are: Iqbal Mohamed, Shockat Adam, Ayoub Khan and Adnan Hussain.
Mr Corbyn and the other four independents have not said if they are part of the new party Ms Sultana announced.
In her announcement, Ms Sultana said she would vote to abolish the two-child benefit cap again and also voted against scrapping the winter fuel payment for most pensioners.
Ms Sultana also voted against the government’s welfare bill this week, which was heavily watered down as Sir Keir Starmer tried to prevent a major rebellion from his own MPs.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
0:47
Protesters block Israeli arms manufacturer in Bristol
On Wednesday, Ms Sultana spoke passionately against Palestine Action being proscribed as a terror organisation – but MPs eventually voted for it to be.
She said to proscribe it is “a deliberate distortion of the law to chill dissent, criminalise solidarity and suppress the truth”.
Ms Sultana said they were founding the new party because “Westminster is broken but the real crisis is deeper – just 50 families now own more wealth than half the UK population”.
She called Reform leader Nigel Farage “a billionaire-backed grifter” leading the polls “because Labour has completely failed to improve people’s lives.
Image: Ms Sultana called Nigel Farage a ‘billionaire-backed grifter’. Pic: PA
The MP, who has spoken passionately about Gaza, added: “Across the political establishment, from Farage to Starmer, they smear people of conscience trying to stop a genocide in Gaza as terrorists.
“But the truth is clear: this government is an active participant in genocide. And the British people oppose it.
“We are not going to take this anymore.”
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “In just 12 months, this Labour government has boosted wages, delivered an extra four million NHS appointments, opened 750 free breakfast clubs, secured three trade deals and four interest rate cuts lowering mortgage payments for millions.
“Only Labour can deliver the change needed to renew Britain.”