OpenAI · OpenAI Privacy Policy · View original document ↗

Data Categories Collected

Medium severity High confidence Explicitdocumentlanguage Unique · 0 of 325 platforms
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Document Record

What it is

OpenAI collects a broad range of personal data including your name, email, payment details, everything you type or upload into its products, your device identifiers, IP address, and general location.

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 policy identifies conversation content, uploaded files, images, and audio as data categories collected, which means that any personal, professional, or sensitive information submitted during a ChatGPT session is captured and subject to the uses described in this policy.

Recent Activity

This document changed recently

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…

Medium May 1, 2026

The updated policy now explicitly authorizes OpenAI to promote products and services to users through direct marketing on third-party properties and to share limited information with select marketing…

Medium Apr 22, 2026

The updated policy removes explicit language describing how OpenAI shares personal data with marketing partners through cookies and similar technologies. The policy previously stated that 'some of th…

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

The policy states that all content submitted by users including text conversations, uploaded files, images, and audio recordings is collected and processed, alongside technical identifiers including device ID, IP address, and location data derived from device or network settings.

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.
  • Export Your Data
    Visit privacy.openai.com to submit a data access request to receive a copy of the personal information OpenAI holds about you.

Cross-platform context

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
We collect information you provide directly to us when you create an account, use our services, or communicate with us. This includes: name, contact information (email, phone), payment information, account credentials, and the content you submit, including text, files, images, and audio. We also collect usage data, device identifiers, IP addresses, browser type, operating system, pages visited, and location information derived from your IP address or device settings.

— Excerpt from OpenAI's OpenAI Privacy Policy

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (Compliance & governance intelligence)

REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision engages CCPA and CPRA category-based disclosure requirements, which mandate that businesses disclose the specific categories of personal information collected at or before the point of collection. The policy's inclusion of audio data may engage additional state biometric or voice data laws depending on jurisdiction. Illinois's Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) may apply if voice or other biometric identifiers are collected from Illinois residents. New York's SHIELD Act imposes specific obligations regarding private information categories. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. The breadth of categories collected, particularly the inclusion of conversation content, uploaded files, audio, and location data, creates a large data footprint that requires comprehensive data mapping, retention scheduling, and breach notification readiness. The combination of content data and technical identifiers creates potential for re-identification even where data is described as de-identified. JURISDICTION FLAGS: Illinois BIPA may apply to voice or facial recognition data if collected from Illinois residents. California CPRA classifies certain inferences drawn from personal data as a separate sensitive data category. Texas and Washington have enacted separate biometric data laws that may interact with the audio and image data collection disclosed in this provision. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Enterprise customers should confirm in their data processing agreements which specific categories of data are collected when their users access OpenAI products, and whether collection of audio or biometric-adjacent data triggers additional contractual protections or consent requirements. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Data mapping documentation should enumerate each category listed in the policy and annotate the applicable retention period, legal basis, and sharing destination. Privacy impact assessments may be warranted given the sensitivity of conversation content and uploaded files. Teams handling regulated data (healthcare, financial, legal) should implement controls preventing submission of regulated data through consumer-tier OpenAI products.

Full compliance analysis

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

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Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC has authority over whether data collection disclosures are accurate, complete, and not deceptive under Section 5 of the FTC Act.
    File a complaint →
  • State AG
    State attorneys general in California and other states with comprehensive privacy laws have enforcement authority over category-based collection disclosures and the adequacy of notice provided to consumers.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
OpenAI Privacy Policy
Entity
OpenAI
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 12, 2026
Last verified
May 12, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-011506
Document ID
CA-D-00010
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
e7d3ae1b9a38038435c94dab99b33a7d5dea6d69b6f8181c5120d571f048984f
Analysis generated
May 12, 2026 10:58 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: OpenAI
Document: OpenAI Privacy Policy
Record ID: CA-P-011506
Captured: 2026-05-12 10:58:58 UTC
SHA-256: e7d3ae1b9a380384…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/openai/openai-privacy-policy/data-categories-collected/
Accessed: May 13, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

Other risks in this policy

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does OpenAI's Data Categories Collected clause do?

The policy identifies conversation content, uploaded files, images, and audio as data categories collected, which means that any personal, professional, or sensitive information submitted during a ChatGPT session is captured and subject to the uses described in this policy.

How does this clause affect you?

The policy states that all content submitted by users including text conversations, uploaded files, images, and audio recordings is collected and processed, alongside technical identifiers including device ID, IP address, and location data derived from device or network settings.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with OpenAI?

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