Sam Altman Pushes for Legal Privacy Protections for ChatGPT Conversations

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has reiterated his call for legal privacy protections for ChatGPT conversations, arguing they should be treated with the same confidentiality as discussions with doctors or lawyers. “If you talk to a doctor about your medical history or a lawyer about a legal situation, that information is privileged,” Altman said. “We believe that the same level of protection needs to apply to conversations with AI.”  

Currently, no such legal safeguards exist for chatbot users. In a July interview, Altman warned that courts could compel OpenAI to hand over private chat data, noting that a federal court has already ordered the company to preserve all ChatGPT logs, including deleted ones. This ruling has raised concerns about user trust and OpenAI’s exposure to legal risks. 

Experts are divided on whether Altman’s vision could become reality. Peter Swire, a privacy and cybersecurity law professor at Georgia Tech, explained that while companies seek liability protection, advocates want access to data for accountability. He noted that full privacy privileges for AI may only apply in “limited circumstances,” such as when chatbots explicitly act as doctors or lawyers. 

Mayu Tobin-Miyaji, a law fellow at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, echoed that view, suggesting that protections might be extended to vetted AI systems operating under licensed professionals. However, she warned that today’s general-pu

[…]
Content was cut in order to protect the source.Please visit the source for the rest of the article.