AI Data Privacy Risks in Moldova: How to Stay Safe

Moldova Warns About Data Privacy Risks When Using Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence has become a practical tool for businesses, professionals and everyday users. It can help write content, analyse documents, prepare customer proposals and automate routine tasks. However, using AI without clear safeguards can put personal information and confidential business data at risk.

On 28 October 2026, Moldova’s National Center for Personal Data Protection warned about the risks of using AI tools improperly, including ChatGPT and Copilot. The authority noted that information entered into these services may be transmitted to providers and stored on their servers, depending on the applicable terms and settings.

How Can Confidential Information Leave Your Organisation?

The risk arises when someone copies information into an AI tool that should not be shared with an external service. For example, an employee might upload a contract containing customer details, paste a contact list, share an internal financial report or ask an AI tool to review a document containing commercially sensitive information.

Before using an AI service, check its privacy policy, data-processing terms, account settings and available controls for submitted information. Different tools offer different terms and safeguards, so it is not safe to assume that every AI service handles data in the same way.

What Should You Avoid Sharing With ChatGPT and Other AI Tools?

Unless there is a clear business need and the relevant security conditions have been checked, avoid submitting:

Identity card and passport details, national identification numbers, passwords, authentication codes, banking information, medical records, customer contact databases, confidential contracts and internal documents that are not intended for public release.

For many tasks, real information can be replaced with fictional examples. If you need help reviewing a contract, remove names, identification details, addresses and commercially sensitive figures before requesting an analysis. An anonymised version is often enough to review the document’s structure or wording.

Why Does This Matter for Businesses in Moldova?

AI use within a company is not limited to management. Employees may use these tools to prepare proposals, answer customers, translate content, review documents or write code. Without internal guidelines, information may be sent to external services without the business owner knowing about it.

For a small business, exposing a customer database, a contract or access credentials can damage trust, strain commercial relationships and create additional costs. AI use should therefore be covered by the company’s information security policy rather than left entirely to individual employees.

How Can You Use Artificial Intelligence More Safely?

A few practical measures can help reduce the risks:

1. Define which types of information employees may use with AI tools and which must remain within the company’s internal systems.

2. Remove personal and confidential information before uploading documents for analysis.

3. Review privacy settings, provider terms and available data-management options.

4. Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication where available.

5. Train employees to recognise suspicious messages and never disclose passwords, verification codes or documents in response to questionable requests.

6. Check AI-generated information before publishing it, sending it to customers or relying on it for important decisions.

AI and Cybersecurity: Understanding the Difference

In October 2026, Moldovan authorities also reported a separate security incident involving government digital services. Preliminary findings indicated that information associated with approximately 750,000 national identification numbers may have been extracted without authorisation. Officials separately discussed the use of AI to help identify vulnerabilities. This does not mean that the government data incident occurred through ChatGPT or another public AI chatbot: these are different situations.

The broader lesson is that security depends on controlling access, identifying vulnerabilities and handling data responsibly. Technology can help automate tasks and detect problems, but it does not remove the need to protect systems and information.

What Should Users and Business Owners Remember?

Artificial intelligence does not need to be avoided; it needs to be used responsibly. Before submitting information to an external service, ask yourself whether the data is necessary, whether it can be anonymised and whether you are authorised to share it with that provider.

For businesses in the Republic of Moldova, simple internal rules, employee training and careful selection of AI tools can reduce risks without giving up the benefits of automation.

AI can save time and simplify work, but data protection must remain a priority. Use technology for clearly defined tasks, share only the information that is necessary and always review the relevant security conditions.