Character.AI keeps your data for as long as needed for the purposes it was collected, or longer to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, or enforce agreements.
This analysis describes what Character.AI's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
This provision establishes the operational framework governing how long Character.AI maintains user data in its systems. It conditions retention duration on both the original collection purpose and user-initiated choices, creating variable retention periods rather than fixed deletion timelines.
Removal of explicit data retention policy provision may indicate less transparent communication about how long user data is retained.
View full change record →Vague retention timelines give Character.AI broad discretion to retain personal data, limiting the practical effect of deletion requests and making it difficult for users to know when their information is actually removed.
How other platforms handle this
Affirm will retain your information in accordance with our Privacy Policy and any applicable state or federal law, rule or regulation.
We collect and keep personal data only as needed or allowed for the purposes set out in this Statement, based on the reason we collected the personal data in the first instance and what is permitted under the laws that apply to the processing.
Mistral AI shall retain the Customer Exportable Data and Assets for a period of thirty (30) days from the earlier between (a) the expiration of the Transitional Period or (b) Customer's notification under Section 2.2.2 (b) of these Additional Terms.
"We keep your information for the time necessary for the purposes for which it is processed or as otherwise described at the time the information is collected, unless a shorter retention period is required by law. The length of time for which we retain information depends on the purposes for which we collected and use it and your choices, after which time we may delete and/or aggregate it.Excerpt from Character.AI's Privacy Policy
The absence of defined retention schedules creates exposure under GDPR Article 5(1)(e) (storage limitation principle) and CCPA regulations requiring reasonably necessary retention.
Enforcement risk, jurisdiction flags, contract triggers, and due diligence action items.
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This provision establishes the operational framework governing how long Character.AI maintains user data in its systems. It conditions retention duration on both the original collection purpose and user-initiated choices, creating variable retention periods rather than fixed deletion timelines.
Vague retention timelines give Character.AI broad discretion to retain personal data, limiting the practical effect of deletion requests and making it difficult for users to know when their information is actually removed.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 275 platforms. See the full comparison.
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