If you’re unaware, Google’s search index can now access shared links from ChatGPT conversations. This has become a significant privacy concern as thousands of shared ChatGPT chats are now appearing in Google search results, making AI-generated conversations discoverable via Google Search. This is a major GDPR concern, and we’re writing this post so that you can check whether you’ve accidentally shared any private information from ChatGPT.
In this example, we’ve used our Premium ChatGPT login, but we’ve checked with a free account, and the process is identical.
How to Check Your Shared ChatGPT Links
To start, log into your ChatGPT account and scroll down to where you can access your settings.
Once you access your settings, click on “Data Controls”, which will allow you to see if your data is being shared.
Then click on the button that says “Manage” for “Shared Links”. After you click on this, you will see which conversations you have shared unintentionally, and you can remove individual conversations or click on the three dots to delete all shared links. We had a couple of shared chats which we promptly deleted. Don’t feel bad if you were in the same situation as us—many bigger companies and people in positions of power have been caught out!
Recent Developments
It’s worth noting that OpenAI has now removed the setting that allowed automatic indexing of shared chats, and previously shared chats will no longer be indexed going forward. However, OpenAI cautions that already-indexed content may still appear in search results temporarily due to caching. This means it’s still crucial to check your shared links and remove any you didn’t intend to make public.
According to OpenAI, these chats were indexed as part of an experiment, with a spokesperson stating: “ChatGPT chats are not public unless you choose to share them. We’ve been testing ways to make it easier to share helpful conversations, while keeping users in control.”
Takeaway
This situation highlights how important it is to remember to check the settings for any software you’re using. Privacy settings can change, and features that seem harmless can have unintended consequences for your data security.
By choosing GivEducation’s AI Chat as your chat of choice in a school setting, you wouldn’t have to worry about anything like this. If you’re interested in trying it out, you can create a free account by following the link below.
Remember: always treat the “share” feature on any AI platform as a public publishing tool. Before sharing, review the content carefully to ensure it doesn’t contain sensitive information.
