Google’s much-anticipated AI chatbot, Bard, faces a delay in its European Union launch, following the EU’s principal data regulator’s concerns about data privacy. The Irish Data Protection Commission, the tech behemoth’s primary data overseer in Europe under GDPR, flagged the issue on Tuesday.
Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle confirmed, “Google communicated its intention to introduce Bard in the EU this week. However, we have yet to receive comprehensive information or a data protection impact assessment concerning how Bard adheres to EU’s data privacy laws.”
Prompted by the lack of satisfactory documentation, the Irish authority has sought detailed compliance evidence from Google. As the matter currently stands, Bard’s EU debut will not occur as originally scheduled this week.
The regulator continues to scrutinize the matter, promising to share updates with other European data agencies promptly. Amid an AI development frenzy, Google has extended its AI chatbot to 180 nations, including the U.S. and the U.K., since March, bypassing the EU where stringent privacy regulators have previously criticized AI products like ChatGPT.
Google affirmed its commitment to ensure Bard’s responsible rollout. A company spokesperson stated, “We have been engaging with experts, regulators, and policymakers to address questions and feedback about Bard’s privacy concerns. We aim to expand Bard’s availability responsibly.”
