How to Bypass the ChatGPT Ban in Italy
Italy recently decided to ban ChatGPT citing privacy concerns, leaving Italian users of the generative AI high and dry. Thankfully, there is a simple and easy way to get around this ban that will let you use ChatGPT from anywhere, even if the app is banned.
Why Did Italy Ban ChatGPT?
According to the BBC, the Italian government came to the decision to temporarily block access to ChatGPT as a result of fears that the program may not be keeping users’ data secure. The government cited that OpenAI, the company that developed ChatGPT, experienced a data breach in late March which exposed users’ data — SecurityWeek has the full story.
However, there are some fears that not only OpenAI’s security may not be up to snuff, but also that it mishandles data from a privacy perspective. As part of the ban — which so far is to be merely temporary, though no end date has been set — Italy’s privacy watchdog Garante is also launching a full-scale GDPR investigation into how exactly ChatGPT handles user data.
Though speculation rages on whether or not this will lead to a EU-wide ban, the fact is that right now Italy is the only western country that has banned ChatGPT, though of course it may lift the ban at any moment. This puts the Mediterranean country in an odd club of mostly despotic states like China, though some other countries have been banned from using ChatGPT by OpenAI itself, most notably Russia.
How to Bypass the ChatGPT Ban
Whatever the reason is for the ban, you’ll be happy to know it’s pretty easy to get around. A block like this — whether it’s the type like Italy’s, where you can’t access a site, or Russia’s, where the site is blocking you — can be evaded by spoofing your IP address, the set of numbers that determines where you’re browsing from.
There are several ways to spoof your IP, but the best by far is to use a virtual private network, better known as a VPN. These handy apps let you reroute your internet connection through one of its servers, letting you assume that server’s IP address. If you’re in Italy right now, say, and connect to a server in Germany, you’d get a German IP address. It’s pretty nifty.
We have put together a list of the best VPNs, but our favorites for use with ChatGPT are ExpressVPN and NordVPN, two market leaders that in our research came out as having the best package. For example, VPNs will slow down your connection, but when we tested them the loss was negligible.
However, there is a downside to VPNs (besides the speed loss) and that is that they aren’t free to use, or at least the good ones aren’t. In the case of ExpressVPN and NordVPN the price may be worth it because besides rerouting your connection they also encrypt it. Though you won’t need it to access ChatGPT, the added security is great if you want to avoid tracking by marketers.
How to Use a VPN for ChatGPT
If you’re interested in using a VPN to bypass the Italian ban on ChatGPT, simply pick the VPN you like, sign up for the service and install it. Our testing has shown ExpressVPN and NordVPN are solid contenders for this, but there are plenty of other options, too. We’ll use ExpressVPN for this demonstration, but most VPNs should follow similar steps.
Once you’ve installed the app, open it up and wait for it to set up. You’ll be greeted by the main screen, which comes with a large button that switches the VPN on and off (it’s still off, for now) at the top and below it a button that lets you pick a server.
To make sure we’re using a server that will allow you to access ChatGPT, let’s go there first. Click on the button and you’ll see a large list of servers you can pick from. Here, you have to make sure you connect to a country that’s nearby to minimize speed loss, but doesn’t have a ban on ChatGPT. If you’re in Italy, we recommend Switzerland, Austria or Germany.
If you’re in Russia or China, you’d want to connect to similarly nearby countries. For Russia you could do Poland or, if you’re further east, India or Nepal. Readers in China could consider Taiwanese or South Korean servers. The trick is to connect to a country that’s close but without the restrictions you’re facing.
With the server selected, simply push the big button to turn the VPN on and that should be it; you can now once again access ChatGPT without the Italian government blocking you. It’s that simple.
In fact, it’s that easy to get around any other blocks, too. If you want to watch Netflix from a different country, say, or access another country’s version of a site to get better deals. No matter if you want to use generative AI, watch shows or pay less for some things, VPNs are the answer.
Looking for more information on using VPNs in Italy? See our list of the best VPNs for Italy to learn more.
