Aug 7, 2025
In June 2025, a landmark US court ruling shook the foundation of digital privacy. OpenAI has been ordered to store all ChatGPT logs indefinitely, even conversations that users actively chose to delete.
Until now, OpenAI claimed that deleted chats would be permanently erased within 30 days. That assurance is no longer valid. The company itself has described this legal ruling as a privacy nightmare, not only for millions of individuals but also for businesses that rely on AI tools to process sensitive data.
So what does this mean for your finances?
If you're using ChatGPT to analyze financial documents, brainstorm investment strategies, or process confidential content, this is your wake-up call. Everything you type is saved, even if you delete it. This includes all conversations across Free, Plus, Pro, and Team accounts. Only Enterprise, Education, and Zero Data Retention API clients are exempt. Unless you’re using a specific business-tier setup with strict controls, your chats are being logged and stored, possibly forever.
Why This Is a Problem
You lose control over your data. Once you hit delete, you assume it’s gone. But it’s not. These conversations may be archived beyond your reach in compliance with a US court order.
Legal frameworks like GDPR are at risk. European users have the right to be forgotten. This legal precedent directly contradicts that, raising major questions about how global data privacy is enforced.
Your data could be exposed in litigation. Financial strategies, portfolio positions, client-sensitive materials, anything you’ve shared with ChatGPT could be discoverable in future lawsuits. Even though OpenAI says that only a small, vetted team can access user logs, this does not change the fact that the door is now open. If one court can compel long-term storage, others might follow. Governments and legal bodies around the world may take similar action.
What You Should Do Instead
If you're handling financial data with AI tools: Use systems that offer Zero Data Retention or fully local enterprise configurations.
Choose internal or on-premise solutions that you control, like those developed by Olymp.
Never rely on blind trust. Always read the privacy policy, understand the legal environment, and ask who can access your data and under what circumstances.
Final Thoughts
The ongoing legal battle between OpenAI and the New York Times highlights something we often forget: you do not truly control what you share with US-based AI tools. A court can override your right to delete. That might be acceptable if you are writing a travel itinerary. But if you are sharing client data, financial insights, or strategic information, you are taking a serious and unnecessary risk.
You would not email your portfolio to a stranger. So do not do the same with a chatbot.