Is GitHub Copilot safe with your data?

GitHub Copilot

GitHub (Microsoft)

63/100

Good disclosure · high confidence

GitHub Copilot earns a B (63/100) because it discloses most of its data practices.

Dealbreaker flag

D1.4: The opt-out right described in this section applies solely to the use of your Inputs and Outputs as described in this section, and does not apply to the license granted in Sections D.4-D.8 or to any Content that does not constitute Input or Output (including Content stored in public repositories)

#21

of 216 apps ranked

score · Coding avg 50

+13

vs category average

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

GitHub Copilot trains on individual users' prompts and AI outputs by default with an account-level opt-out, but a separate repository content licence lets GitHub and its affiliates train on user content regardless of that opt-out.

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

Opt-out does not cover repository content

The terms grant GitHub and its affiliates a licence to train AI models on user content, and state that the Copilot opt-out does not apply to that licence or to content stored in public repositories.

Trains on prompts unless you opt out

Inputs and outputs from individual accounts feed model development by default, with an account-settings opt-out that applies only from its effective date forward.

Named 90-day deletion window

After cancellation the policy commits to deleting the full profile and repository content within 90 days, though some data may persist in encrypted backups.

No breach-notification commitment

Security controls are described only as appropriate administrative, technical and physical measures, and the policy sets out no breach-notification duty or timeframe.

What the policy is silent or vague on

Not stated: your ownership of generated outputs
Not stated: shorter retention for AI conversation logs
Not stated: a mapping of processing purposes to legal bases
Not stated: limits on special-category data

GitHub Copilot privacy rating

Training-data use2 of 4 disclosed

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

Names a way to opt out of or into trainingDisclosed

Says whether training use differs by plan or tierDisclosed

Lets the user keep ownership of generated outputsSilent

Data-subject rights2 of 5 disclosed

Grants a right to access your dataPartial

Grants a right to delete your dataPartial

Offers data portability in a usable formatPartial

Grants a right to correct your dataDisclosed

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 logsSilent

Commits to collecting only the data it needsPartial

Third-party sharing3 of 5 disclosed

Lists the categories of third parties it shares withDisclosed

References a sub-processor list or data processing agreementDisclosed

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

Names a safeguard for international data transfersDisclosed

States a standard for government and law-enforcement accessPartial

Transparency3 of 4 disclosed

Discloses that you are interacting with AIDisclosed

Marks AI-generated or synthetic outputNot applicable

Enumerates the categories of data it collectsDisclosed

Maps processing purposes to legal basesSilent

Is versioned and dated, with change noticeDisclosed

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: Coding
Modalities: text
Processes biometrics: No
Policy last updated: 2026-04-27
Region scored: Global / US-default
Last assessed: 2026-10-13

Documents examined

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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.