Is ChatGPT safe with your data?

ChatGPT

OpenAI

54/100

Partial disclosure · high confidence

ChatGPT earns a C (54/100) because it discloses its data practices only in part.

#79

of 211 apps ranked

score · Assistant avg 49

vs category average

Grade scaleA · 70–100B · 60–69C · 48–59D · 35–47F · 0–34

OpenAI's consumer policies disclose training use with an opt-out, output ownership, a named privacy request channel and a 30-day deletion timeline, but stay vague on default retention, sub-processors, legal bases and breach notification.

What ChatGPT's privacy policy and terms of service say about your data

Training opt-out is a link, not a setting

The terms say only that you can "opt out by following the instructions in this article", pointing to a help page rather than a named setting with defined scope.

Retention default is vague, not 30 days

The 30-day figure applies to opt-in Temporary Chats and to post-deletion removal. The general rule is that data is kept "only as long as we need", with no number attached.

Statutory rights are conditional

The rights list is prefaced with "Depending on where you live, you may have certain statutory rights". Only the account-level export and delete controls are offered unconditionally.

Output ownership does not limit provider reuse

Users own Output, but OpenAI reserves use of Content to "provide, maintain, develop, and improve our Services" plus model training. That reach is wider than service delivery.

What the policy is silent or vague on

Not stated: whether training use differs by plan
Not stated: a sub-processor list or data processing agreement
Not stated: marking of AI-generated output
Not stated: a mapping of processing purposes to legal bases

ChatGPT privacy rating

Training-data use0 of 4 disclosed

Keeps user inputs out of model training, or makes training opt-inPartial

Names a way to opt out of or into trainingPartial

Says whether training use differs by plan or tierSilent

Lets the user keep ownership of generated outputsPartial

Data-subject rights3 of 5 disclosed

Grants a right to access your dataPartial

Grants a right to delete your dataDisclosed

Offers data portability in a usable formatDisclosed

Grants a right to correct your dataPartial

Grants a way to object to or opt out of processingDisclosed

Retention and deletion1 of 4 disclosed

States a retention period for your dataPartial

States a deletion timeline after closure or requestDisclosed

Sets a shorter retention for AI conversation logsPartial

Commits to collecting only the data it needsPartial

Third-party sharing1 of 5 disclosed

Lists the categories of third parties it shares withDisclosed

References a sub-processor list or data processing agreementSilent

Does not sell or share data for advertising, or offers opt-outPartial

Names a safeguard for international data transfersPartial

States a standard for government and law-enforcement accessPartial

Transparency2 of 5 disclosed

Discloses that you are interacting with AIDisclosed

Marks AI-generated or synthetic outputSilent

Enumerates the categories of data it collectsDisclosed

Maps processing purposes to legal basesSilent

Is versioned and dated, with change noticePartial

Sensitive data and children1 of 2 disclosed

Discloses automated decisions and a human-review pathNot applicable

Limits the use of special-category dataSilent

Governs biometric data specificallyNot applicable

States protections for children's dataDisclosed

Security and accountability1 of 3 disclosed

Describes its security safeguardsPartial

Commits to breach notificationSilent

Names a certification or a privacy contactDisclosed

DisclosedPartialSilentAdverseNot applicable

Details

Category: Assistant
Modalities: text, image
Processes biometrics: No
Policy last updated: 2026-01-01
Region scored: Global / US-default
Last assessed: 2026-08-13

Documents examined

Other assistant apps

Each grade reflects our analysis of what an app states in its public privacy policy and terms as of the assessment date. It measures the transparency of those documents, not the company's actual data practices, security, or compliance. Grades are our opinion, offered for general information. Full disclaimer.