ChatGPT-maker OpenAI said that it is appealing in a copyright case filed by The New York Times, which requires the company to keep all ChatGPT output data indefinitely. The company argues that this demand goes against its promise to protect users’ privacy. CEO Sam Altman shared a post on microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter) writing: “we will fight any demand that compromises our users’ privacy; this is a core principle”. The post comes after a court directed the company to preserve and separate all user-generated data, following a request from The New York Times last month. The data is part of the ongoing legal case over the use of copyrighted content.
OpenAI to appeal against the court’s decision
In a series of posts, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote:
“Recently the NYT asked a court to force us to not delete any user chats. we think this was an inappropriate request that sets a bad precedent.
we are appealing the decision.
we will fight any demand that compromises our users’ privacy; this is a core principle.”
He further stated “
we have been thinking recently about the need for something like “AI privilege”; this really accelerates the need to have the conversation.
imo talking to an AI should be like talking to a lawyer or a doctor.
i hope society will figure this out soon.”
The company has also shared a blog post where Brad Lightcap, COO, OpenAI said the New York Times and other plaintiffs have made a “sweeping and unnecessary demand” in what it called “baseless lawsuit”. OpenAI COO said that the demand to not delete users’ chat “fundamentally conflicts with the privacy commitments” and “abandons long-standing privacy norms and weakens privacy protections.”“We strongly believe this is an overreach by the New York Times. We’re continuing to appeal this order so we can keep putting your trust and privacy first,” he added.
