OpenAI Fights Court Order to Preserve All ChatGPT Logs
▼ Summary
– OpenAI is challenging a court order to preserve all ChatGPT user logs, including deleted and sensitive API chats, after news organizations accused it of destroying evidence in copyright lawsuits.
– The court issued the order without OpenAI’s input, based on claims by The New York Times and other plaintiffs, which OpenAI argues were unfounded and rushed.
– OpenAI claims the order violates user privacy by preventing the deletion of logs, affecting ChatGPT Free, Plus, Pro, and API users globally.
– News organizations raised concerns that users might delete chats to bypass paywalls, leading the judge to order log preservation to prevent alleged evidence destruction.
– OpenAI argues the order is premature and overly broad, demanding it be vacated until plaintiffs prove a substantial need for retaining all chat logs.
OpenAI is challenging a recent court mandate requiring the preservation of all ChatGPT user interactions, including deleted conversations and sensitive API data. This legal battle stems from copyright infringement lawsuits filed by major media outlets alleging the company destroyed potential evidence.
According to court documents, OpenAI claims the preservation order was issued hastily, based solely on speculation from plaintiffs like The New York Times. The company argues the directive unfairly restricts its ability to honor user privacy preferences, impacting millions across ChatGPT Free, Plus, Pro, and API services.
The dispute arose after news organizations raised concerns that individuals might use ChatGPT to bypass paywalls and then erase their activity logs. Plaintiffs insisted OpenAI’s selective retention of chat data—only keeping logs with user consent—could obscure critical evidence. Judge Ona Wang sided with these concerns, ruling that without court intervention, OpenAI would likely continue its standard data deletion practices.
In response, OpenAI filed a motion to vacate the May 13 order, calling it overly broad and premature. The company maintains that preserving every chat log indefinitely poses significant privacy risks, emphasizing that plaintiffs have yet to demonstrate a legitimate need for such sweeping data retention. Until then, OpenAI warns, the mandate threatens the confidentiality of user interactions on an unprecedented scale.
(Source: Ars Technica)
