OpenAI’s top executive just confirmed what most users never considered. Sam Altman, speaking on Theo Von’s podcast in July 2025, said plainly: ChatGPT conversations can be subpoenaed. No legal shield. No confidentiality. No privilege. If you’ve used the chatbot like a therapist, a coach, or a confessional, your words are fair game in court.
Altman didn’t hedge. “People talk about the most personal sh** in their lives to ChatGPT,” he said. “We haven’t figured that out yet for when you talk to ChatGPT.” He called the situation “very screwed up.” The legal system doesn’t treat AI chats like doctor-patient or attorney-client exchanges. That means your deepest disclosures can be handed over in lawsuits, investigations, or discovery requests.
The warning comes amid a federal court order forcing OpenAI to preserve all user chats indefinitely. The New York Times demanded it during a copyright suit. The judge agreed. Deleted chats are now retained. Even temporary sessions are frozen. The order applies to users on Free, Plus, Pro, and Team plans. Only Enterprise customers are exempt.
OpenAI is appealing. Altman says the ruling is an “overreach.” But the damage is done. The company admits it can read every conversation. Unlike WhatsApp or Signal, there’s no encryption. No barrier. No protection. Deleted chats used to vanish after 30 days. Not anymore.
The privacy gap is massive. Altman wants “AI privilege” laws to match those for therapists and lawyers. But no jurisdiction has passed one. Until then, users are exposed. Every message is retrievable. Every confession is vulnerable. Every chat is a potential exhibit.
https://tech-ish.com/2025/07/27/chatgpt-lack-legal-privacy-protections/
https://ypredict.ai/news/sam-altman-says-chatgpt-chats-can-be-used-in-court/