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
The clause establishes that API data is not immediately discarded and may be held for up to 30 days for defined operational and safety purposes.
The updated terms state that workspace admins 'can control' data retention rather than directly controlling it. This conditional phrasing may suggest that retention control is optional or contingent rather than a guaranteed capability. Enterprise customers relying on admin-driven data retention policies should clarify with OpenAI whether this change affects their ability to set specific retention timelines for workspace data.
View change record →The updated terms shift governance of conversation access and retention from end users to workspace administrators. Under the revised policy, workspace admins can now view, access, export, and delete any end user conversations within their workspace and control how long workspace data is retained. Additionally, OpenAI now reserves the right to retain deleted or unsaved conversations beyond the standard 30-day deletion window if retention is reasonably necessary to protect its services or any third party from harm, beyond prior language that limited retention extensions to legal requirements. Within an enterprise account, end users no longer have unilateral control over conversation visibility or deletion of their own conversations.
View change record →Your API inputs and outputs may be retained by OpenAI for up to 30 days after submission.
How other platforms handle this
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.
We store your personal information for a period of time that is consistent with the business purposes set forth in Section 3 of this policy or as long as needed to fulfill and comply with legal obligations.
in the course of providing the Services, we may create, collect and/or maintain de-personalized information, which we may retain indefinitely.
"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 Enterprise Privacy
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The clause establishes that API data is not immediately discarded and may be held for up to 30 days for defined operational and safety purposes.
Your API inputs and outputs may be retained by OpenAI for up to 30 days after submission.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 275 platforms. See the full comparison.
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