OpenAI has reportedly terminated the ChatGPT account of Eric Hartford, a developer known for creating open source and uncensored AI models such as Dolphin.
According to Hartford, his account was deleted on October 13, 2025, without warning or explanation, erasing years of conversation history despite his $200 per month Pro plan subscription.
Hartford said he received no notice of policy violations and denied any involvement in prohibited activities such as generating illegal content.
He also claimed that his appeal was automatically rejected, calling the process opaque and dismissive.
The move has triggered heated debate across X (formerly Twitter), where users split between those defending OpenAI’s right to enforce its policies and others criticizing what they view as overreach.
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Some open source advocates accused OpenAI of punishing developers who promote transparent, decentralized AI alternatives.
Still, it’s possible OpenAI acted under internal security or compliance reasons it cannot publicly disclose.
Yet the absence of transparency leaves room for speculation and fuels distrust at a time when AI companies are already under scrutiny for ethical and privacy concerns.
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We don’t know what triggered the suspension. Private companies have every right to enforce their terms if they believe their platform is being misused.
Tech analysts say the controversy underscores broader tensions between corporate AI governance and the open-source movement.
This case exposes the fragility of user trust when platforms hold complete control over access and data. It’s less about one developer and more about how centralized AI power operates.
Maybe this is a wake up call for anyone trusting cloud-based AI services or the company may have acted to protect its systems from misuse.
As of now, OpenAI has not issued an official statement on the matter. The episode adds to ongoing debates over data sovereignty, content moderation, and the ethical boundaries of AI development.
