OpenAI has enabled two official ways for any user to permanently delete their account, either from the company's Privacy Portal or by accessing the account settings in ChatGPT. This decision affects all services linked to the account, such as ChatGPT, API, and DALL-E, and is irreversible.
Total elimination and consequences for users
The deletion process implies that OpenAI deletes the profile, access credentials, conversation history, personalized settings, usage data, and billing information, except for that which must be retained for legal or auditing reasons. The deletion is permanent and does not allow recovery of access to any associated product.
In the case of users with active subscriptions to ChatGPT Plus, Team, or Enterprise, the company requires canceling the subscription before proceeding. If the subscription was contracted from the web, it is necessary to manage it in the settings section and wait for the billing period to end. For those who use Apple's App Store or Google Play, deleting the account does not imply the automatic cancellation of the subscription, which must be done manually in the corresponding store.
Data protection and user rights in Cataluña
OpenAI ensures compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). European users can request a complete export of their personal data before deleting the account, using the tools available in the Privacy Portal.
The company may retain information for periods determined by legal, tax, or security obligations. However, under the GDPR, users have the right to be forgotten and can request the total deletion of their personal data at any time. Under the CCPA, it is possible to request information about the data collected, delete it, and opt out of its sale.
Terms and technical conditions of the process
The deletion procedure starts immediately, although OpenAI may take up to 30 days to completely delete all data from its systems. It is not possible to delete only the ChatGPT account and keep the API, as the account is unique for all products.
Regarding the use of data for training, if the user had the corresponding option deactivated, conversations are not used in future models. If it was activated, already processed conversations may have contributed to training, but they are treated anonymously.
OpenAI maintains specific tools in its Privacy Portal so that users can exercise their rights of access, deletion, and control over their personal data at any time.