Provision record
OpenAI · OpenAI Data Processing Addendum · View original document ↗

Customer audit rights limited to once per year

Medium severity High confidence Explicit document language Unique · 0 of 352 platforms

Key Facts · in the document’s own words

At whose expense are customer audits conducted?
“allow for and contribute to audits or inspections by, or on behalf of, Customer at Customer's sole expense...occur no more than once per year.”
Version CA-V-005936, captured Aug. 20, 2026 · live source ↗
Our reading, not the document’s words
OpenAI limits customer audit rights to no more than once per year, conducted at Customer's sole expense.
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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)

The annual frequency cap and cost allocation to the Customer constrain the Customer's practical ability to verify OpenAI's data processing practices.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Customers are permitted to audit or inspect OpenAI's practices at most once per year and must pay all associated costs themselves.

How other platforms handle this

PayPal Medium

Certain aspects and features of our Services and Sites are only available through the use of Cookies, so if you choose to disable or decline Cookies through your device or browser settings, your use of the Sites and Services may be limited...

Square Medium

Depending on how your Customers interact with the Services, Square may process Your Customers' Data as a business service provider.

Public.com Medium

These choices do not apply to certain informational communications including important information and documentation relating to your account.

See all platforms with this clause type →
▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
allow for and contribute to audits or inspections by, or on behalf of, Customer at Customer's sole expense...occur no more than once per year.

Excerpt from OpenAI's Data Processing Addendum

Provision details

Document information
Document
OpenAI Data Processing Addendum
Entity
OpenAI
Date stated by the document
Jan. 1, 2026
As printed in OpenAI’s text (version CA-V-005936), not a ConductAtlas date.
Tracking information
First captured by ConductAtlas
May 11, 2026
Text quoted from version
CA-V-005936, captured Aug. 20, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-061499
Document ID
CA-D-000757
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Extracted-text SHA-256 (version CA-V-005936)
3576c9c2da3364bebf36269c4340b36cad2c77854aec7ec441aa394207198c93
Analysis generated
July 9, 2026 03:35 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Excerpt found verbatim in version CA-V-005936 (checked Oct. 5, 2026)
Citation Record
Entity: OpenAI
Document: OpenAI Data Processing Addendum
Record ID: CA-P-061499
Version: CA-V-005936
Captured: 2026-08-20 00:04:53 UTC
SHA-256: 3576c9c2da3364be…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/openai/openai-data-processing-addendum/provision/CA-P-061499/customer-audit-rights-limited-to-once-per-year/
Accessed: Oct. 8, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does OpenAI's Customer audit rights limited to once per year clause do?

The annual frequency cap and cost allocation to the Customer constrain the Customer's practical ability to verify OpenAI's data processing practices.

How does this clause affect you?

Customers are permitted to audit or inspect OpenAI's practices at most once per year and must pay all associated costs themselves.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with OpenAI?

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