Proposal: How to unban Ukraine from OpenAI Sanctions List

Community
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Dear OpenAI Team,

I am writing to propose that Ukraine be removed from the OpenAI sanctions list. The current sanctions prevent Ukrainian users from accessing OpenAI’s services, which has had a negative impact on their ability to use the platform and access its resources.

One possible solution to this issue is to implement a bank verification process for Ukrainian users. This would allow OpenAI to ensure that the users are not located in the DPR (Donetsk People’s Republic) and are in compliance with the sanctions.

Additionally, I propose that OpenAI consider hiring a Ukrainian volunteer to help monitor and identify any potential abuse of the ChatGPT model. This would not only provide valuable assistance to the OpenAI team, but also give the volunteer an opportunity to contribute to the platform and gain valuable experience in the field of AI.

One more solution to this problem would be to implement a system that detects and bans users who are using the model for war-related purposes. This could be done by using machine learning algorithms to identify patterns of text that are associated with Russian/Ukraine war propaganda, and then flagging or banning users who generate similar content.

I believe that implementing these measures would be beneficial for both OpenAI and Ukrainian users, and I hope that you will consider my proposal.

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Second possible solution is to work with the Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation government to develop a verification process that would allow us to ensure that users are not located in the DPR (Donetsk People’s Republic) and are in compliance with the sanctions. By discussing this proposal with the Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation, we could potentially gain their support and cooperation in implementing such a process.

Additionally, discussing with the Ministry could also open opportunities to explore other ways OpenAI can support the development of Ukraine’s digital infrastructure and digital skills.

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Benefits:

  • OpenAI would be able to ensure that users are not located in the DPR (Donetsk People’s Republic) and are in compliance with the sanctions.
  • OpenAI could potentially gain the support and cooperation of the Ukrainian government in implementing a verification process.
  • OpenAI could explore ways to support the development of Ukraine’s digital infrastructure and digital skills.
  • OpenAI could prevent the misuse of the ChatGPT model for war-related purposes by banning users who use the model for these purposes.

Risks:

  • OpenAI may face challenges in developing and implementing an effective verification process that ensures compliance with the sanctions without unduly restricting access to the platform for Ukrainian users.
  • OpenAI may face resistance from Ukrainian users who may view the verification process as an infringement of their rights.
  • OpenAI may face difficulty in identifying and banning users who use the model for war-related purposes as it requires sophisticated techniques and a team to monitor it.

Possible Problems:

  • Users may find ways to circumvent the verification process, making it ineffective.
  • Users may find ways to generate war-related content without being detected by the monitoring team.
  • Users may not be willing to participate in the verification process, leading to a decline in the number of Ukrainian users on the platform.
  • The monitoring team may be overwhelmed by the amount of content to review, leading to delays in identifying and banning users who use the model for war-related purposes.
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We also are reaching out to report a technical issue we have encountered while trying to purchase products from OpenAI. We have noticed that when attempting to make payments with Ukrainian bank cards, the transaction is being declined. We have confirmed with our banks that there are no issues with our accounts, and it appears that the issue is related to the sanctions in place.

We can use ChatGPT and other OpenAI products from European Union, but we can’t pay for it. There is more than 7 millions people from Ukraine now in European Union, and any of us can’t use the Mono, Private, and other bank cards for processing payments, because it got declined.

People from DPR can’t use this types of cards.