California residents have some of the strongest consumer data rights in the US, and OpenAI is obligated to honor these rights including responding to opt-out requests within legally required timeframes.
Consumer impact
OpenAI collects a wide range of personal data including your conversation content, uploaded files, device information, and usage patterns, which may be used to train AI models. Third-party service providers and affiliates may receive your data, and cross-border transfers occur for international users. You can opt out of having your conversations used for model training by going to Settings > Data Controls in your ChatGPT account.
What you can do
⚠️ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
Opt Out of Arbitration
Visit OpenAI's US Privacy Policy page to find the opt-out form for data sale/sharing as a California resident, or navigate to your account's Data Controls settings to exercise CCPA rights.
Applicable agencies
State Attorney General
State AGs in California, New York, Texas, and other states can investigate violations of state consumer protection and privacy laws, including CCPA (California), SHIELD Act (New York), and equivalents.
Who can file: Residents of states with comprehensive privacy laws — primarily California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and Utah
What you need: Evidence of the violation, explanation of how your state rights were affected, and your account or contact information with the company
What to expect: Outcomes vary by state. May result in investigation, enforcement action, or requirement for the company to change practices. No direct individual compensation in most cases.
Search "[your state] attorney general consumer complaint" to find your state's direct complaint form