Cursor · Cursor Data Use & Privacy Overview · View original document ↗

API Key Backend Routing Disclosure

Medium severity High confidence Explicitdocumentlanguage Unique · 0 of 325 platforms
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This analysis describes what Cursor'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

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

This provision clarifies that self-supplied API keys do not provide data isolation from Cursor's systems, which may be contrary to user expectations about API key use and affects how Privacy Mode settings apply to such requests.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

With Privacy Mode disabled, the document states Cursor may store and use codebase data, prompts, editor actions, and code snippets to improve AI features and train models, and may share prompts and telemetry with third-party inference providers. Users who supply their own API keys should note the document states their requests still route through Cursor's backend for prompt building, regardless of API key source. You can enable Privacy Mode in Cursor's settings to apply zero data retention at the model-provider level and prevent your code from being used as training data.

How other platforms handle this

OpenAI Medium

When you use an application built by a third-party that uses our API, that third-party operator may collect your personal data and have their own privacy policies that govern how they use it. OpenAI is not responsible for the privacy practices of these third-party operators. We recommend reviewing t...

Google Gemini High

If you access our generative AI services through the API, you're also responsible for ensuring your use, and the use by those who access the services through your platform, complies with our usage policies. You must implement appropriate safeguards to prevent prohibited uses by your users.

RapidAPI High

Your use of third-party APIs available through the RapidAPI platform is subject to the applicable API provider's terms of service, and you agree to comply with such terms. RapidAPI is not responsible for any third-party APIs or their terms.

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
Even if you use your API key, your requests will still go through our backend! That's where we do our final prompt building.

— Excerpt from Cursor's Cursor Data Use & Privacy Overview

Applicable regulations

CFAA
United States Federal

Provision details

Document information
Document
Cursor Data Use & Privacy Overview
Entity
Cursor
Document last updated
May 11, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 11, 2026
Last verified
May 12, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-010696
Document ID
CA-D-00764
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
7bd016281b3f2dcf271223558f9511f2d93cc13a84b3a147251127ce1af62024
Analysis generated
May 11, 2026 13:09 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Cursor
Document: Cursor Data Use & Privacy Overview
Record ID: CA-P-010696
Captured: 2026-05-11 13:09:42 UTC
SHA-256: 7bd016281b3f2dcf…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/cursor/cursor-data-use-privacy-overview/api-key-backend-routing-disclosure/
Accessed: May 13, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

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Built from archived source documents, structured governance mappings, and historical version tracking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cursor's API Key Backend Routing Disclosure clause do?

This provision clarifies that self-supplied API keys do not provide data isolation from Cursor's systems, which may be contrary to user expectations about API key use and affects how Privacy Mode settings apply to such requests.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Cursor?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Cursor.