OpenAI states it keeps your personal data for as long as needed to run its services and meet legal requirements, after which it will delete or anonymize it.
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 policy does not specify fixed retention periods for individual data categories, which means the duration for which conversation content, uploaded files, and account data may be retained is not precisely defined for users.
Interpretive note: The policy does not specify retention periods by data category, making it difficult to assess whether specific data types such as conversation content or uploaded files are retained for different durations.
The updated policy explicitly discloses that OpenAI receives information from advertisers and other data partners for Free and Go users, and uses this data to personalize ads and measure ad effectiveness. The policy now states that Free and Go users can control what data OpenAI uses to personalize ads through advertising controls in account settings. This represents clarified disclosure of an existing practice rather than a new authorization.
View change record →The updated privacy policy now explicitly states that OpenAI receives information from advertisers and other data partners, which is used to personalize ads shown to Free and Go users and to measure the effectiveness of those ads. For example, the policy notes that OpenAI could receive information about purchases users make from advertisers. The policy now includes a dedicated section on ad personalization and measurement as a primary use of personal data for these user tiers. You can manage what data OpenAI uses for ad personalization by accessing the advertising controls in your account settings or by using the Data Controls option.
View change record →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 partners (who are not service providers) to support these efforts. The policy states that some marketing partners may receive information through cookies and similar technologies. The revised terms establish that these marketing practices are subject to user choices and controls, with additional information and opt-out options available. You can make choices about the use of your information for third-party product promotion purposes through controls referenced in the policy.
View change record →Added clarifying subheading 'Information we retain for longer for legitimate security, safety, or legal reasons:' between the initial deletion statement and the reasons for longer retention, and removed ellipsis in favor of period.
View full change record →The policy authorizes retention of personal data including conversation content and account information for an unspecified period described as 'as long as necessary,' without stating specific timelines for individual data categories such as conversation history or uploaded files.
How other platforms handle this
to request that your data be transferred to a third party (data portability)
Your organization may allow you to access and export your data in order to back it up or transfer it to a service outside of Google.
Further, you may take legal actions in relation to any potential breach of your rights regarding the processing of your Personal Information, as well as to lodge complaints before the competent data prot...
"We retain personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. When we no longer need personal information, we will delete or anonymize it, or if this is not possible, we will securely store and isolate it from further processing.Excerpt from OpenAI's Privacy Policy
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: CCPA and CPRA require that privacy policies disclose the period for which personal information will be retained, or the criteria used to determine that period.
Enforcement risk, jurisdiction flags, contract triggers, and due diligence action items.
Search "[your state] attorney general consumer complaint" to find your state's direct complaint form
Ad personalization controls removed. Contact scanning added. Advertiser data partnerships quietly dropped. A timeline of every change.
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The policy does not specify fixed retention periods for individual data categories, which means the duration for which conversation content, uploaded files, and account data may be retained is not precisely defined for users.
The policy authorizes retention of personal data including conversation content and account information for an unspecified period described as 'as long as necessary,' without stating specific timelines for individual data categories such as conversation history or uploaded files.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 290 platforms. See the full comparison.
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