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

API inputs and outputs retained up to 30 days

High severity High confidence Explicitdocumentlanguage Common · 275 of 352 platforms
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Recent governance activity OpenAI recorded 14 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)

Retention is permissive rather than mandatory and is capped at 30 days, but the two stated purposes — service provision and abuse identification — authorize OpenAI to hold API data during that window.

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.

View change record →

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Your API inputs and outputs may be held by OpenAI for up to 30 days and used for service provision and abuse identification.

How other platforms handle this

Grindr Medium

If you decide to delete your Profile, it will no longer be visible to other Grindr users and your personal information will generally be deleted within 28 days.

Upwork Medium

Developer must promptly and securely delete all Upwork User Data collected from Upwork users upon request of the Upwork user, when the Upwork user deactivates or uninstalls the Developer Application, when the Upwork user closes their account with Developer...

Salesforce Medium

We may retain your Personal Data for a period of time consistent with the original purpose of collection...or as long as required to fulfill our legal and/or regulatory obligations.

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
OpenAI may securely retain API inputs and outputs for up to 30 days to provide the services and to identify abuse.

— 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-061207
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-061207
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-061207/api-inputs-and-outputs-retained-up-to-30-days/
Accessed: July 13, 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 API inputs and outputs retained up to 30 days clause do?

Retention is permissive rather than mandatory and is capped at 30 days, but the two stated purposes — service provision and abuse identification — authorize OpenAI to hold API data during that window.

How does this clause affect you?

Your API inputs and outputs may be held by OpenAI for up to 30 days and used for service provision and abuse identification.

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.