Provision record
Perplexity AI · Perplexity Data Processing Addendum · View original document ↗

Data Deletion and Return Obligation

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Document Record

What it is

Perplexity is required to delete or return all Personal Data within 30 days of service termination, with notification required if legal retention obligations apply.

This analysis describes what Perplexity AI'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)

This provision establishes a 30-day post-termination deletion or return obligation, a standard data lifecycle management control that enables Customer compliance with data minimization and retention obligations under GDPR and applicable US state privacy laws.

Recent Activity

This document changed recently

Medium Aug 16, 2026

Business customers using Perplexity services are now governed by an updated DPA with two material operational changes. First, subprocessor disclosures have shifted from a static document attachment (Annex 2) to a live online list maintained at https://trust.perplexity.ai/subprocessors, with notifications of changes coming through in-product notification or email rather than through formal amendment. Second, certain Perplexity services (specifically Embeddings API and Perplexity Search) now operate under product-specific data postures and terms that control over the main DPA, meaning the data handling for those services may differ from the baseline agreement. Business customers should review the Trust Center list regularly and check for in-product notifications regarding subprocessor changes, as the updated terms no longer require static amendment cycles.

View change record →

Clause Stability Stable

0
Changes
4
Months Monitored
Jul 9, 2026
First Seen
Jul 9, 2026
Last Seen

Change history

modified Jul 23, 2026

Previous version had empty excerpt but same provision name; current version now includes specific 30-day deletion timeline and legal retention exception with explicit notification requirement.

View full change record →

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

The agreement requires Perplexity to delete or return all Customer Personal Data within 30 days of service termination, and to notify Customer if any legal retention obligation extends that period.

Cross-platform context

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
Perplexity shall delete (or, at Customer's option, return) all Personal Data within thirty days of the end of the provision of the Services to Customer, unless retention of the Personal Data is required by law, in which case, Perplexity shall notify Customer without undue delay of such legal requirement and shall upon the expiration of such retention obligation delete (or, at Customer's option, return) the Personal Data.

Excerpt from Perplexity AI's Perplexity Data Processing Addendum

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (regulatory & governance intelligence)

REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision engages GDPR Article 28(3)(g), which requires processor agreements to address deletion or return of data upon termination, and equivalent US state law data retention and deletion requirements.

Insight

Unlock the full institutional analysis

Enforcement risk, jurisdiction flags, contract triggers, and due diligence action items.

Applicable agencies

  • Federal Trade Commission (ftc)
    Oversees unfair or deceptive business practices and can investigate companies that mislead consumers about data collection, sharing, or use.
    Who can file: Anyone affected by the company's practices (US or international)
    What you need: Your account details, a timeline of relevant events, and a description of the specific issue
    What to expect: Complaints inform FTC enforcement priorities and investigations but do not result in individual resolution or compensation
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
Perplexity Data Processing Addendum
Entity
Perplexity AI
Document last updated
May 11, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 20, 2026
Last verified
July 9, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-013627
Document ID
CA-D-00763
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
63330764edf10647a51ca197723ef717b3e1db5fabfb778068184b91e31fc670
Analysis generated
May 20, 2026 22:20 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Perplexity AI
Document: Perplexity Data Processing Addendum
Record ID: CA-P-013627
Captured: 2026-05-20 22:20:53 UTC
SHA-256: 63330764edf10647…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/perplexity-ai/perplexity-data-processing-addendum/provision/CA-P-013627/data-deletion-and-return-obligation/
Accessed: Sept. 8, 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 Perplexity AI's Data Deletion and Return Obligation clause do?

This provision establishes a 30-day post-termination deletion or return obligation, a standard data lifecycle management control that enables Customer compliance with data minimization and retention obligations under GDPR and applicable US state privacy laws.

How does this clause affect you?

The agreement requires Perplexity to delete or return all Customer Personal Data within 30 days of service termination, and to notify Customer if any legal retention obligation extends that period.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Perplexity AI?

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