Official documentation

Data controls in the OpenAI platform

OpenAI, OpenAI Platform documentation, 2026

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Read on October 16, 2026

What it is: OpenAI's documentation of how API data is retained, which endpoints qualify for zero data retention and how abuse monitoring logs work.
How much weight it carries: Official vendor documentation for the API, read in October 2026. It describes the API, not the ChatGPT consumer product.

Facts taken from this source

OpenAI says its Zero Data Retention control excludes customer content from abuse monitoring logs.
“Zero Data Retention excludes customer content from abuse monitoring logs in the same way as Modified Abuse Monitoring.” (Zero Data Retention section)
OpenAI says abuse monitoring logs are generated for all API feature usage and retained for up to 30 days by default, unless longer retention is required by law or to protect its services.
“By default, abuse monitoring logs are generated for all API feature usage and retained for up to 30 days” (Data retention section)
OpenAI says data sent to its API is not used to train or improve its models unless the customer explicitly opts in.
“As of March 1, 2023, data sent to the OpenAI API is not used to train or improve OpenAI models (unless you explicitly opt in to share data with us).” (Introduction, Your data is your data)
OpenAI says that customers who have signed its Business Associate and Healthcare Addendum can use BAA-eligible endpoints to process protected health information once their organization is provisioned for Private Retention, even if data is retained.
“For customers who have executed an OpenAI Business Associate and Healthcare Addendum, once your org ID is provisioned with Private Retention with Private Safety Processing, BAA-eligible endpoints can be used for processing PHI, even if data is retained.” (Private Retention with Private Safety Processing section)
OpenAI's per-endpoint table lists /v1/audio/transcriptions with no abuse monitoring retention, no application state retention, and as eligible for Zero Data Retention.
“/v1/audio/transcriptions No None None Yes No” (Storage requirements and retention controls per endpoint table)
OpenAI says its Zero Data Retention and Modified Abuse Monitoring controls currently require prior approval by OpenAI and acceptance of additional requirements.
“Currently, these controls are subject to prior approval by OpenAI and acceptance of additional requirements.” (Data retention controls for abuse monitoring section)

Data controls in the OpenAI platform

Facts taken from this source

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Data controls in the OpenAI platform

Facts taken from this source

Pages that rest on this source