{
  "id": 15859968,
  "title": "ChatGPT users can lock their chats as OpenAI rolls out new privacy feature",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/chatgpt-users-can-lock-their-chats-as-openai-rolls-out-new-privacy",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-21T07:04:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu - Sci-Tech",
    "slug": "the-hindu-sci-tech",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/chatgpt-users-can-lock-their-chats-as-openai-rolls-out-new-privacy-feature/article71606591.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "OpenAI has introduced a new feature called 'Locked chats' for ChatGPT users, aiming to enhance privacy during shared screen or device usage. This feature allows users to keep selected conversations in their account but separate from their regular history, pinned chats, and standard search results. Users can access their locked chats through a dedicated section in the 'Projects' menu, and they will need a 4-digit account PIN to open them. The feature is compatible with various mobile devices, including those with Face ID, Touch ID, and other device unlocking methods.\n\nOnce a conversation is locked, users can no longer modify it. However, it's worth noting that locked chats may still display ads if this was previously enabled. OpenAI has also mentioned that the rollout of this feature is ongoing. One interesting aspect of the feature is that it may be incompatible with some conversation types. Users are advised that resetting their account PIN would permanently delete all locked chats and the content associated with the older PIN.",
  "summary": "OpenAI said that locked chats were available on the ChatGPT Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu offerings",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}