People are currently discussing how sensitive US government documents were made public through ChatGPT. The interim US cybersecurity chief Madhu Gottumukkala who has Indian heritage faces charges which link him to the incident. A report by Politico, citing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials, detailed the situation.
Background of the Incident
- Madhu Gottumukkala became interim chief of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in May last year. The officials state that he requested permission to use the AI chatbot immediately after he assumed his new position. Employees who work in departments such as DHS face restrictions which prevent them from accessing ChatGPT. The allegations state that he obtained access to the system which he used to upload confidential materials.
- The uploaded files reportedly included CISA contract files and other highly sensitive information. CISA's internal cybersecurity sensors issued warnings about the uploads in August. DHS officials are currently investigating the ongoing situation while they assess whether their inquiry has reached its final stage.
Official Response
Marcie McCarthy, Director of Public Affairs at CISA, stated that Madhu Gottumukkala was granted temporary permission to use ChatGPT under DHS supervision. She explained that users who uploaded information to the public ChatGPT version created accessible content which OpenAI could view. AI systems create public concerns because users can request information from these systems which might lead to document disclosures.
Current Status
DHS staff members are investigating how the uploaded documents influenced the ongoing investigation. Officials have not released further details about potential consequences or next steps.
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