OpenAI · OpenAI Privacy Policy · View original document ↗

Collection of Usage and Device Data

Low severity High confidence Explicitdocumentlanguage Unique · 0 of 325 platforms
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Recent governance activity OpenAI recorded 11 documented changes in the last 30 days.
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Document Record

What it is

OpenAI automatically collects technical data about your device and how you use its services, including your IP address, browser type, search queries, and feature usage patterns.

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 clause establishes the operational scope of data collection that occurs passively during service use, defining the categories of technical and behavioral information the entity may process as part of service delivery and system administration.

Recent Activity

This document changed recently

Medium May 14, 2026

The updated policy now explicitly states four privacy rights that apply depending on your location and subject to applicable exceptions: the right to know about and access your personal data in portable format, the right to request deletion, the right to correct inaccurate data, and the right to be free from retaliation for exercising these rights. Previously, the policy referenced these rights only through procedural language about how to submit requests. The explicit enumeration establishes clearer notice of what protections the policy recognizes. You can exercise these rights by submitting a request through privacy.openai.com or dsar@openai.com.

View change record →
Medium May 11, 2026

The updated policy now explicitly discloses that OpenAI receives information from advertisers and data partners, including details about purchases you make, and uses this data to personalize ads shown to Free and Go users. Previously, the policy referenced ad effectiveness measurement without disclosing the specific source (advertiser data) or the personalization component. Under the revised terms, Free and Go users can use advertising controls in account settings to control what data OpenAI uses to personalize ads. You can access these controls through your OpenAI account settings to adjust ad personalization.

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Medium May 5, 2026

The updated policy no longer explicitly states that OpenAI receives information from advertisers and other data partners for ad measurement and improvement, nor does it mention that users can control what data is used to personalize ads shown on the service. The revised terms now establish a broader direct marketing authority, stating the company may promote products and services to users through direct marketing and on third-party properties to assess effectiveness, subject to user choices and controls. The policy adds a reference to a Korea Addendum for Korean users. You can review the linked resources to understand what choices and controls remain available.

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Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Every session with OpenAI services generates device and behavioral data that OpenAI collects automatically; this includes your IP address and usage patterns, which can be used to infer location and behavior even without account registration.

Cross-platform context

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
Usage Data. When you use our Services, we automatically collect certain technical information about your device and how you interact with our Services, such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, device identifiers, and cookie data, as well as information about how you use and interact with our Services, such as the date and time of your visit, the features you use, searches you conduct, and other usage information.

— Excerpt from OpenAI's OpenAI Privacy Policy

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (Compliance & governance intelligence)

(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Automated collection of IP addresses and device identifiers constitutes processing of personal data under GDPR, requiring a disclosed legal basis. Cookie data collection may additionally require compliance with ePrivacy Directive requirements in the EU, including consent for non-essential cookies. The FTC Act and CCPA apply to US users regarding disclosure and limitation of automated data collection. (2) GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Low to Medium. Automated collection of usage and device data is standard industry practice, but the breadth of categories collected (IP, device identifiers, browsing behavior, feature usage) creates a detailed behavioral profile that may engage data minimization obligations. Cookie consent mechanisms should be verified for ePrivacy compliance in the EU. (3) JURISDICTION FLAGS: EU ePrivacy Directive and national cookie laws apply to EEA users and may require granular consent for non-essential cookies. California users have CCPA rights regarding the categories of data collected. Illinois BIPA would apply only if biometric identifiers were collected, which is not indicated by this provision. (4) CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Enterprise customers deploying OpenAI in workplace contexts should assess whether employee device and usage data is collected and whether employee privacy notices accurately disclose this. (5) COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Review cookie consent banners for ePrivacy compliance; assess whether device identifier collection aligns with data minimization principles; confirm that usage data is included in DSAR responses when users request their personal data.

Full compliance analysis

Regulatory citations, enforcement risk, and due diligence action items.

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Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC has authority over automatic data collection practices under Section 5 of the FTC Act, including whether disclosures are adequate and whether practices are unfair or deceptive.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
OpenAI Privacy Policy
Entity
OpenAI
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 10, 2026
Last verified
May 10, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-009768
Document ID
CA-D-00010
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
9fedd919cc6d99e951ea6b8c198d3ded6d0673342d8c265778e44a35720b9b49
Analysis generated
May 10, 2026 22:24 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: OpenAI
Document: OpenAI Privacy Policy
Record ID: CA-P-009768
Captured: 2026-05-10 22:24:41 UTC
SHA-256: 9fedd919cc6d99e9…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/openai/openai-privacy-policy/collection-of-usage-and-device-data/
Accessed: May 20, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
Low
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does OpenAI's Collection of Usage and Device Data clause do?

The clause establishes the operational scope of data collection that occurs passively during service use, defining the categories of technical and behavioral information the entity may process as part of service delivery and system administration.

How does this clause affect you?

Every session with OpenAI services generates device and behavioral data that OpenAI collects automatically; this includes your IP address and usage patterns, which can be used to infer location and behavior even without account registration.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with OpenAI?

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