Malta gives citizens a paid version of ChatGPT Plus for free

EuroNews · 🇫🇷 public France · May 16, 2026 · 378 words · By Roselyne Min

Government-Tech Partnerships Digital Modernization AI Literacy and Education

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Citizens and residents registered with Malta’s online identity system can apply to get access to ChatGPT Plus after completing a free online course.

Claims checked 11

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center100%

Right0%

2 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Citizens and residents registered with Malta’s online identity system can apply to get access to ChatGPT Plus after completing a free online course.

Why it matters

OpenAI has signed its first partnership with a national government bringing the paid version of ChatGPT for free to residents of Malta.

Common ground

OpenAI and the Government of Malta on Saturday announced a deal that will give every citizen free access to the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot for one year through a government-led AI literacy programme.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Glittering Generalities: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Government-Tech Partnerships story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that OpenAI and the Government of Malta on Saturday announced a deal that will give every citizen free access to the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot for one year through a government-led AI literacy programme?
How does this story connect Government-Tech Partnerships with Digital Modernization over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.euronews.com/next/2026/05/16/malta-offers-free-chatgpt-plus-access-t…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 70% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Glittering Generalities 60% confidence

Using vague, emotionally appealing phrases ('freedom', 'justice') without specifics.

Why it matters: Recognizing glittering generalities helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 11 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

verified Verified By Reference 5

help Insufficient Evidence 2

check_circle Corroborated 1

info Single Source 1

verified Verified 1

schedule Pending 1

verified

Claim 1: “OpenAI and the Government of Malta on Saturday announced a deal that will give every citizen free access to the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot for one year through a government-led AI literacy programme.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

No evidence in the provided search results mentions a deal between OpenAI and the Government of Malta for a one-year free access program.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — 2025 (MMXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2025th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 25th year of the 3rd millennium and the 2…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Amazon Alexa, or simply Alexa, is a virtual assistant technology marketed by Amazon and implemented in software applications for smart phones, tablets, wireless smart speakers, and other electronic ap…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Alexa

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A military artificial intelligence arms race is a technological, economic, and military competition between two or more states to develop and deploy advanced AI technologies and lethal autonomous weap…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence_arms_r…

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 2: “Citizens and residents registered with Malta’s online identity system can apply to get access to ChatGPT Plus after completing a free online course.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided evidence consists of generic ChatGPT landing pages, unrelated Wikipedia entries (Amazon Alexa, Proletariat), and a random course advertisement. There is no evidence confirming a specific program for Maltese residents to get ChatGPT Plus via a course.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The proletariat (; from Latin proletarius 'producing offspring') is the social class of wage-earners, those members of a society whose possession of significant economic value is their labour power (…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proletariat

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Windows 11 is the current major release of Microsoft's Windows NT operating system, released on October 5, 2021, as the successor to Windows 10 (2015). It is available as a free upgrade for devices ru…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_11

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 3: “Citizens and residents registered with Malta’s online identity system can apply after completing a free online course called AI for All, developed by the University of Malta.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

While there is a search result for the University of Malta, there is no mention of a course called 'AI for All' linked to ChatGPT Plus access.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2020s (pronounced "twenty-twenties" or "two thousand [and] twenties") is the current decade that began on 1 January 2020 and will end on 31 December 2029. The COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath m…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020s

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 21st century is the current century in the Anno Domini or Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. It began on 1 January 2001 (MMI), and will end on 31 December 2100 (MMC). It is the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21st_century

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+ 3 more evidence sources

help

Claim 4: “In September 2025, OpenAI announced a partnership with the Greek government to bring its technology to secondary schools and start-ups across the country.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found after searching for this claim. Additionally, the date mentioned (September 2025) is in the future relative to the current date, making it a prediction or a potential error in the claim.

check_circle

Claim 5: “George Osborne, head of OpenAI for Countries, an initiative by OpenAI”

CORROBORATED

Three independent web search results confirm that George Osborne was appointed by OpenAI to lead the 'OpenAI for Countries' initiative.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — OpenAI has appointed former UK chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne as managing director and head of OpenAI for Countries, marking a high-profile move that links national government strategy, AI…
https://www.edtechinnovationhub.com/news/george-osborne-join…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — OpenAI appointed George Osborne to head the “OpenAI for Countries” initiative, focusing on global AI expansion. The initiative aims to provide sovereign nations with autonomous AI infrastructure, know…
https://parameter.io/openai-appoints-george-osborne-to-lead-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — OpenAI has hired former U.K. Treasury chief George Osborne to “lead our work helping governments build for the future with AI.”OpenAI announced OpenAI for Countries in May, saying this initiative aims…
https://www.pymnts.com/artificial-intelligence-2/2025/openai…

info

Claim 6: “The Malta Digital Innovation Authority will manage access to the free subscriptions”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence only provides instructions on how to cancel a ChatGPT subscription and does not mention the Malta Digital Innovation Authority.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Explore your options with Manage Chat Gpt Subscription. Get ChatGPT Pro features for less by accessing shared or group subscription plans.
https://groupbuyseo.org/pages/manage-chat-gpt-subscription/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Deal ChatGPT Free + $20/mo The most powerful AI chatbot currently...
https://chatgpt.com/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — ChatGPT Business subscriptions. To cancel your Business subscription: Log into ChatGPT. Click on your profile icon and select Workspace settings. Navigate to the Billing tab. Select the dropdown menu …
https://help.openai.com/en/articles/7232927-how-do-i-cancel-…

verified

Claim 7: “The first phase of the programme will launch in May, according to the announcement.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The evidence mentions a 'Malta AI & Blockchain Summit' in May, but does not mention the launch of an AI literacy programme phase in May.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — General elections will be held in Malta on 30 May 2026 to elect all members of the House of Representatives.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Maltese_general_election

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Aħwa Maltin (Maltese: Aħwa Maltin, AM), previously called the People's Party (Maltese: Partit Popolari, PP), also called the Popular Party by Maltese English-language media, is a conservative politic…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aħwa_Maltin

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Floriana (Maltese: Il-Furjana or Il-Floriana), also known by its title Borgo Vilhena, is a fortified town in the Port Region area of Malta, just outside the capital city Valletta. It has a population …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floriana

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 8: “Silvio Schembri, the country’s minister for economy, enterprise and strategic projects”

VERIFIED

Multiple web search results explicitly confirm that Silvio Schembri is the Minister for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects of Malta.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Silvio Schembri is a Maltese politician and academic currently serving for the Ministry for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects. Previously, Hon.
https://www.eurococoa.com/team/silvio-schembri-minister-for-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — H.E. Silvio Schembri. Minister for Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects of Malta. Silvio Schembri is a Maltese politician and academic currently serving as Minister for the Economy, EU Funds and…
https://investopia.ae/speakers/h-e-silvio-schembri/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — minister photo. Silvio Schembri is a Maltese politician and academic currently serving for the Ministry for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects. Previously, Hon.
https://economy.gov.mt/minister/

help

Claim 9: “Last year, Anthropic announced a project that gives all teachers in Iceland access to Claude, its AI assistant”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found after searching for this claim.

verified

Claim 10: “OpenAI has signed its first partnership with a national government bringing the paid version of ChatGPT for free to residents of Malta.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The evidence provided includes general information about ChatGPT and a partnership with the US federal workforce, but nothing regarding a partnership with the government of Malta to provide free paid versions to residents.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Rabbit r1 is a personal assistant device developed by tech startup Rabbit Inc and co-designed by Teenage Engineering. It is designed to perform various functions, including browsing the web and pl…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit_r1

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Stripe, Inc. is a multinational financial services and software as a service (SaaS) company dual-headquartered in South San Francisco, California, United States, and Dublin, Ireland. The company prima…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stripe,_Inc.

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 11: “In February 2025, the UK government signed a memorandum of understanding with Anthropic to improve how people access and interact with government information and services online.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.