GitHub retains certain personal data even after you delete your account, including for legal compliance, dispute resolution, and enforcement of agreements, and some data may persist in backup systems.
This analysis describes what GitHub'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
The clause creates a framework where data retention extends beyond account deletion based on operational and legal necessity rather than account status alone. This operational approach reflects common compliance requirements across multiple regulatory regimes and contractual enforcement needs.
The updated terms now explicitly authorize GitHub to collect AI outputs generated within the platform alongside user-provided code and content, and to share personal data with Microsoft and other GitHub affiliates for purposes including training and improving artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. The privacy statement indicates that aggregate and de-identified data will be used where feasible, but the updated language establishes broader authority for affiliate data sharing and AI model development than the previous version stated. The revised terms also remove specific disclosure of the conditions under which GitHub personnel may access private repositories, replacing that detail with a cross-reference to the Terms of Service, which means the scope of internal GitHub access to private repositories is now defined in a separate contract document rather than the privacy statement itself.
View change record →Residual data including content you created, transaction records, and compliance-related information may be retained after account closure for unspecified periods. Users seeking complete data erasure should submit an explicit deletion request to privacy@github.com in addition to closing their account.
How other platforms handle this
If you follow the instructions here, your account will be deactivated and your data will be queued for deletion. When deactivated, your X account, including your display name, username, and public profile, will no longer be viewable on X.com, X for iOS, and X for Android. For up to 30 days after dea...
When you delete your account, your profile is no longer visible to other users and disassociated from content you posted under that account. Please note, however, that the posts, comments, and messages you submitted prior to deleting your account will still be visible to others unless you first dele...
We store information until it is no longer necessary to provide our services and WhatsApp Products, or until your account is deleted or becomes inactive, whichever comes first. This is a case-by-case determination that depends on things like the nature of the information, why it is collected and pro...
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"We'll retain your Personal Data as long as your account is active and as needed to fulfill contractual obligations, comply with legal requirements, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements. The retention duration depends on the purpose of data collection and any legal obligations.— Excerpt from GitHub's GitHub Privacy Statement
Retention-after-deletion provisions must be reconciled with GDPR Article 17 (right to erasure) and CPRA deletion rights, both of which permit retention exceptions for legal obligations and dispute resolution but require proportionality. Compliance teams should request GitHub's data retention schedule as part of vendor due diligence.
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The clause creates a framework where data retention extends beyond account deletion based on operational and legal necessity rather than account status alone. This operational approach reflects common compliance requirements across multiple regulatory regimes and contractual enforcement needs.
Residual data including content you created, transaction records, and compliance-related information may be retained after account closure for unspecified periods. Users seeking complete data erasure should submit an explicit deletion request to privacy@github.com in addition to closing their account.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 7 platforms. See the full comparison.
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