Google’s plans to launch its AI chatbot, Bard, in the European Union have been delayed due to privacy concerns raised by the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), the primary regulator overseeing Google’s data practices in Europe. The DPC stated that Google had not provided sufficient information regarding the privacy protections of Bard, thereby preventing its European debut.
Graham Doyle, a spokesperson for the Irish Data Protection Commission, explained that the regulator had not received a detailed briefing or any supporting documentation, including a data protection impact assessment, from Google at this point. As a result, the DPC has raised additional data protection questions with Google and is awaiting a response. Consequently, the launch of Bard in the EU, which was initially planned for this week, will be postponed.
In response to the situation, a Google spokesperson highlighted the company’s commitment to making Bard widely available, including in the European Union. They emphasized that Google has been engaging with privacy regulators, experts, and policymakers to address their questions and gather feedback during the responsible expansion process.
This delay in launching Bard in the EU follows a similar situation involving ChatGPT, a rival chatbot backed by Microsoft, which faced a temporary ban in Italy over privacy concerns in late March.
The Irish DPC has specified that Bard must comply with the European Union’s Personal Data Protection law, implemented in 2018, which safeguards individuals’ data except when necessary for criminal activities or threats to public security.
Google’s support page for Bard previously stated its intention to expand gradually to more countries and territories while adhering to local regulations and the company’s AI principles.
The EU has recently been cautious about AI and its potential privacy implications. OpenAI’s ChatGPT, for example, has been available for individuals in Europe without any restrictions since its free research preview launch in November 2022.
The DPC has not provided a timeline for when or if Bard will receive approval to launch in the European Union, and Google will need to address all questions and concerns raised by the regulator to ensure compliance with EU regulations.
