July 28, 2025
5 min read
Martin Young
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warns ChatGPT chats have no legal privilege and could be subpoenaed, urging privacy laws like those for therapists.
What You Share with ChatGPT Could Be Used Against You
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has raised concerns about the lack of legal privilege for conversations held with ChatGPT, warning that these chats could be subpoenaed and used in lawsuits. Altman highlighted this privacy gap during an interview with podcaster Theo Von, explaining that unlike conversations with therapists, lawyers, or doctors—which are protected by legal privilege—ChatGPT conversations currently have no such safeguards.“And right now, if you talk to a therapist or a lawyer or a doctor about those problems, there’s like legal privilege for it… And we haven’t figured that out yet for when you talk to ChatGPT.”He added that if users share their most sensitive information with ChatGPT and later become involved in a lawsuit, OpenAI could be legally required to produce those conversations. Altman’s remarks come amid growing use of AI for psychological support, medical advice, and financial guidance. He described the current situation as “very screwed up” and emphasized the need for privacy protections akin to those that exist for therapists.
Lack of a Legal Framework for AI
Altman stressed the urgent need for a legal policy framework around AI, calling it a “huge issue.” He admitted personal hesitation in using AI tools extensively due to uncertainty about who might access the information shared.“That’s one of the reasons I get scared sometimes to use certain AI stuff because I don’t know how much personal information I want to put in, because I don’t know who’s going to have it.”He believes policymakers agree on the necessity of establishing privacy rights for AI conversations similar to those for medical or legal professionals, and that swift action is required.
Broader Surveillance Concerns
Altman also voiced concerns about increased surveillance as AI adoption accelerates worldwide. Governments may seek more oversight to prevent misuse of AI technologies for terrorism or other harmful activities. He expressed willingness to compromise some privacy for collective safety but warned about historical government overreach:“History is that the government takes that way too far, and I’m really nervous about that.”Source: Originally published at Cointelegraph on Mon, 28 Jul 2025.