OpenAI has recently stated that free users now have access to the ChatGPT Memory feature, which keeps track of previous conversations to enhance future interactions. Nonetheless, a recent court decision mandates OpenAI to retain all chat logs for every user, including those that have been deleted. This ruling arises from lawsuits initiated by news organizations such as the New York Times. (Note: Ziff Davis, which owns Mashable, also filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April over copyright matters.)

On May 13, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang in New York instructed OpenAI to “preserve and segregate” all output log data that would normally be removed, as reported by ArsTechnica. While the ruling was issued weeks ago, it has become a focal point as OpenAI challenges the order, requesting oral arguments to reverse it.

The plaintiffs claim that OpenAI may delete chat logs that could show users circumventing paywalls through ChatGPT. OpenAI asserts that this is merely speculative. In a recent court document highlighted by Bloomberg, OpenAI’s attorneys argue that the order imposes a “substantial burden” and would require significant alterations to its data infrastructure, potentially breaching its privacy policies. OpenAI is ready to contest the “sweeping, unprecedented order.”

If the ruling is upheld, ChatGPT users will have to assume that all their discussions are being recorded, which raises considerable privacy issues for millions.