The Unintended Consequences of Censoring Digital Technology - Evidence from Italy's ChatGPT Ban

David H. Kreitmeir () and Paul Raschky
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David H. Kreitmeir: SoDa Labs, Monash University

No 2023-01, SoDa Laboratories Working Paper Series from Monash University, SoDa Laboratories

Abstract: We analyse the effects of the ban of ChatGPT, a generative pre-trained transformer chatbot, on individual productivity. We first compile data on the hourly coding output of over 8,000 professional GitHub users in Italy and other European countries to analyse the impact of the ban on individual productivity. Combining the high-frequency data with the sudden announcement of the ban in a difference-in-differences framework, we find that the output of Italian developers decreased by around 50\% in the first two business days after the ban and recovered after that. Applying a synthetic control approach to daily Google search and Tor usage data shows that the ban led to a significant increase in the use of censorship bypassing tools. Our findings show that users swiftly implement strategies to bypass Internet restrictions but this adaptation activity creates short-term disruptions and hampers productivity.

Keywords: chatgpt; productivity; internet; censorship; italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D72 D83 L86 L88 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-big, nep-eur, nep-ind, nep-pay and nep-reg
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The Unintended Consequences of Censoring Digital Technology -- Evidence from Italy's ChatGPT Ban (2023)
Working Paper: The Unintended Consequences of Censoring Digital Technology - Evidence from Italy's ChatGPT Ban (2023)
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