ChatGPT data privacy and chat deletion guidelines

Users of ChatGPT are advised to exercise caution regarding personal and sensitive data to prevent potential leaks. Experts recommend avoiding the input of banking details, such as account numbers, credit card information, CVV, and PINs. Additionally, users should be careful when uploading identification documents like passports, Aadhaar cards, or PAN cards; if necessary, sensitive details like ID numbers or QR codes should be blurred or hidden.

Corporate security is also a concern, as uploading confidential company documents, including customer lists, internal strategies, or unpublished financial data, poses a risk.

Regarding data management, OpenAI states that while deleting a chat removes it from the user's history immediately, the data is scheduled for permanent removal from the system within 30 days. Once a chat is deleted, it cannot be recovered through the interface, API, or support. Users should distinguish between deleting and archiving; archived chats are removed from the main history but remain saved in the account settings for later retrieval.