For many, ChatGPT is more than just a tool. The AI chatbot plays the role of therapist, financial advisor and workplace assistant, among other things. We share our symptoms, our legal worries, and our unfinished business thoughts with the bot. However, a new class action filed in California suggests that these “private” conversations might not be so much. More specifically, the lawsuit alleges that OpenAI has been sharing your ChatGPT data with Meta and Google.
OpenAI sued for allegedly sharing ChatGPT data with Meta and Google
According to the complaint, OpenAI allegedly embedded common tracking technologies—specifically the Meta Pixel and Google Analytics—into the ChatGPT website. These tools are industry standards for many websites, used to measure traffic and target ads. But when a chatbot handles deeply personal prompts, the stakes are dramatically different.
The lawsuit claims that both tech giants got real-time identifying information, such as emails and user IDs, along with the actual text of the queries. This means a sensitive question about a medical condition or a confidential business strategy could potentially become part of a larger data trail used for targeted advertising.
The legal “Wilderness” of California
While the allegations sound invasive, legal experts noted that this case might face a steep uphill battle. As Cybernews researcher Aras Nazarovas pointed out, OpenAI’s privacy policy already includes broad language about sharing data with third parties for analytics and product improvement. In the world of “surveillance capitalism,” these trackers are everywhere. Most users technically agree to them the moment they sign up.
Furthermore, the case relies heavily on the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA). Critics often describe the state as a “legal wilderness” for such lawsuits, where nearly 60-year-old laws are frequently used to challenge modern tech practices, often with mixed results.
An “AI-nature” reminder
Regardless of how this plays out in court, the news reminds us of the nature of AI. While the interface feels like a human-to-human conversation, they are still pieces of technology that process data. To grow and improve, AI can use methods similar to those of social media—including collecting your data.
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