Why does ChatGPT throw an error when outputting "David Mayer"?

post by Archimedes · 2024-12-01T00:11:53.690Z · LW · GW · No comments

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    1 Pazzaz
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This oddity is making the rounds on Reddit, Twitter, Hackernews, etc.

Is OpenAI censoring references to one of these people? If so, why?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Mayer_de_Rothschild https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Mayer_(historian)

Edit: More names have been found that behave similarly:

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/ChatGPT/comments/1h420u5/unfolding_chatgpts_mysterious_censorship_and/

Answers

answer by Pazzaz · 2024-12-01T12:50:38.045Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Probably because of a terrorist who used the alias David Mayer.

↑ comment by notfnofn · 2024-12-01T14:24:46.306Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I don't think this explanation makes sense. I asked ChatGPT "Can you tell me things about Akhmed Chatayev", and it had no problem using his actual name over and over. I asked about his aliases and it said

Akhmed Chatayev, a Chechen Islamist and leader within the Islamic State (IS), was known to use several aliases throughout his militant activities. One of his primary aliases was "Akhmed Shishani," with "Shishani" translating to "Chechen," indicating his ethnic origin. Wikipedia

Additionally, Chatayev adopted the alias "David

Then threw an error message. Edit: upon refresh it said more:

Akhmed Chatayev, a Chechen Islamist and leader within the Islamic State (IS), was known to use several aliases throughout his militant activities. One of his primary aliases was "Akhmed Shishani," with "Shishani" translating to "Chechen," indicating his ethnic origin. Wikipedia

Additionally, Chatayev adopted the alias "David Mayer." This particular alias led to a notable case of mistaken identity involving a 90-year-old U.S. Army veteran and theater historian named David Mayer. The veteran experienced significant disruptions, such as difficulties in traveling and receiving mail, due to his name being on a U.S. security list associated with Chatayev's alias. CBC

These aliases facilitated Chatayev

(I didn't stop copying there; that was the end of the answer. Full chat)

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