OpenAI · OpenAI API Data Usage Policies · View original document ↗

Customer controls data retention duration

High severity Medium confidence Explicitdocumentlanguage Common · 275 of 352 platforms
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Recent governance activity OpenAI recorded 16 documented changes in the last 30 days.
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This analysis describes what OpenAI'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 gives customers direct authority over data retention duration on these specific products, distinguishing them from other offerings where OpenAI's default policies govern retention.

Interpretive note: The excerpt does not specify the mechanism or scope of customer control, only that it exists. The named products are the only context established.

Recent Activity

This document changed recently

Medium May 28, 2026

The updated terms establish that workspace admins, rather than individual end users, control how long workspace conversation data is retained and authorize admins to view, access, export, and delete end user conversations. Previously, the policy stated that each user controlled whether their conversations were retained and that only end users could view their own conversations. The revised terms also permit OpenAI to retain deleted or unsaved conversations beyond the standard 30-day deletion window if retention is required by law or reasonably necessary to protect OpenAI's services or third parties from harm. Workspace users should review their organization's data governance policies to understand what access and retention practices their admins have implemented.

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Consumer impact (what this means for users)

If you use ChatGPT Enterprise, ChatGPT for Healthcare, or ChatGPT Edu, you have control over how long your data is retained.

How other platforms handle this

Synthesia Medium

Customer will be permitted to export Customer Data via the Services; provided, that Customer acknowledges and agrees that such ability to export may be limited by the applicable Services plan in effect and the data retention settings enabled by Customer.

Palantir Medium

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.

Upwork Medium

we will only retain your personal information for as long as is necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, regulatory, accounting, or reporting requirements...

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
You control how long your data is retained (ChatGPT Enterprise, ChatGPT for Healthcare, ChatGPT Edu)

— Excerpt from OpenAI's OpenAI API Data Usage Policies

Applicable regulations

CCPA/CPRA
California, USA
GDPR
European Union
Indiana Consumer Data Protection Act
US-IN
UK GDPR
United Kingdom

Provision details

Document information
Document
OpenAI API Data Usage Policies
Entity
OpenAI
Document last updated
May 12, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
July 9, 2026
Last verified
July 9, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-061196
Document ID
CA-D-00789
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
1ae7d9fa2dca070b64ed5b07ad1ec3806fc650d1cfbfeddb552af548e6be6663
Analysis generated
July 9, 2026 03:33 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: OpenAI
Document: OpenAI API Data Usage Policies
Record ID: CA-P-061196
Captured: 2026-07-09 03:33:57 UTC
SHA-256: 1ae7d9fa2dca070b…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/openai/openai-api-data-usage-policies/provision/CA-P-061196/customer-controls-data-retention-duration/
Accessed: July 12, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does OpenAI's Customer controls data retention duration clause do?

This gives customers direct authority over data retention duration on these specific products, distinguishing them from other offerings where OpenAI's default policies govern retention.

How does this clause affect you?

If you use ChatGPT Enterprise, ChatGPT for Healthcare, or ChatGPT Edu, you have control over how long your data is retained.

How many platforms have this type of clause?

ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 275 platforms. See the full comparison.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with OpenAI?

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