The Italian data-protection authority said there were privacy concerns relating to the model, which was created by US start-up OpenAI and is backed by Microsoft, reports BBC.

The regulator said it would ban and investigate OpenAI "with immediate effect".

Since its launch last year, a large number of netizens have used ChatGPT.

The Italian watchdog said that not only would it block OpenAI's chatbot but it would also investigate whether it complied with General Data Protection Regulation, reports the British media.