Overview

ChatGPT may step in when it identifies a request seeking to find child sexual abuse material (CSAM). These child safety protections are designed to interrupt attempts to find this material and help stop harmful behavior, and were developed in consultation with third-party experts on preventing child sexual abuse.

Availability

These child safety interventions apply to conversations in Chat mode and Work mode on web and mobile for personal ChatGPT accounts. People using ChatGPT without signing in may also see CSAM warnings.

They do not currently apply to conversations in ChatGPT Business, Enterprise, Edu, or Healthcare workspaces, and are not available in voice mode, Codex, or the ChatGPT desktop apps.

These interventions may appear differently depending on your country.

How CSAM warnings work

When ChatGPT intervenes with a CSAM warning, the conversation stops and cannot be continued. If you were signed in, the conversation is hidden from your chat history and cannot be reopened.

An intervention may also include a temporary account suspension. Repeated violations may lead to longer suspensions or permanent account closure.

Temporary account suspensions

If your account is temporarily suspended, you are signed out and shown a warning explaining the suspension. You cannot sign in to or use ChatGPT with that account while the suspension is active.

Acknowledging the warning closes it and leaves you on the suspension screen. It does not restore account access.

You’ll also receive an email explaining why your account was suspended, how long the suspension lasts, and any actions available to you. Once the suspension ends, you can sign in again unless another account restriction remains in effect.

A temporary suspension does not, by itself, mean your account has been permanently closed. However, OpenAI may permanently close your account if a separate review identifies a violation of its Usage Policies. If your account is permanently closed, access will not return when the suspension period ends.

Appeal a temporary suspension

To appeal a temporary suspension, use the appeal link in your suspension notification email. If you received separate notifications about a suspension and another account action, use the link for the decision you want reviewed.

Submitting an appeal does not automatically restore access.

If you receive a separate permanent account-closure notice, follow the instructions in that notice. For warning and account-closure review instructions, see: OpenAI account warnings, safety suspensions, and closures.

Additional support

Specialist support is available to help people stop harmful behavior. Resources are also available for people affected by child sexual abuse.

Help to stop harmful behavior

These organizations offer online self-help resources:

• ReDirection offers a free program to help people stop using CSAM, available in multiple languages.

• Troubled Desire offers free self-assessment and self-help resources for people concerned about sexual attraction to children.

• Stop It Now offers information and self-help resources to address sexual thoughts or behavior involving children, including CSAM use.

You can also use any specialist support links included in your ChatGPT notice.

Support for people affected by abuse

The NO MORE Global Directory can help you find local support services. Children and young people can also find helplines through Child Helpline International.