OpenAI has announced the rollout of data residency support in Japan, India, Singapore, and South Korea for its ChatGPT Enterprise, ChatGPT Edu, and API Platform customers, marking a major step in meeting local data sovereignty and compliance requirements across key Asian markets.

Data Residency: Meeting Local Data Sovereignty Needs

With this new initiative, organizations and educational institutions in Japan, India, Singapore, and South Korea can now choose to have their data, including user conversations, custom GPTs, prompts, uploaded files, and content across text, vision, and image modalities stored at rest within their own countries. This move is designed to help businesses and institutions comply with local regulations that require sensitive data to remain within national borders.

For ChatGPT Enterprise and Edu users, new workspaces can be configured so that all user content is stored locally. API Platform customers can enable data residency by creating a new project in the dashboard and selecting the relevant country, ensuring that all data associated with that project is stored in the selected region.

How Data Residency Works for OpenAI Products

ChatGPT Enterprise and Edu

New workspaces can be set up with data residency enabled, meaning all user content, including conversations, uploads, and custom GPT interactions, is stored within the chosen country.

API Platform

Eligible customers can select their preferred country when creating a new project, ensuring that all API data is stored in that region.

OpenAI’s data residency program builds on its existing enterprise-grade privacy, security, and compliance features, which are already trusted by hundreds of organizations across Asia, including major names like Kakao, SoftBank, Grab, and Singapore Airlines.

Enterprise-Grade Security and Compliance

OpenAI emphasizes that data residency is just one part of a broader commitment to data protection and regulatory compliance:

Advanced Encryption

Data at rest is protected using AES-256 encryption, while data in transit is secured with TLS 1.2+ protocols, safeguarding confidentiality and integrity.

No Training on Customer Data

By default, OpenAI does not use data from ChatGPT business plans or the API for model training unless customers explicitly opt in.

Comprehensive Data Protection

OpenAI’s data protection practices support compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy laws, and the company adheres to industry standards such as CSA STAR and SOC 2 Type 2.

Data Processing Addendum (DPA)

OpenAI offers a detailed DPA that clarifies roles and responsibilities under GDPR and other privacy regulations, supporting organizations in meeting their compliance obligations.

Impact on the Region and Industry

This expansion is particularly significant for India, which has rapidly become OpenAI’s second-largest and fastest-growing market, with the user base tripling in 2024 alone. The move also aligns with recent regulatory trends in the region, such as India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, which emphasizes the importance of local data storage for major technology platforms.

By enabling local data storage, OpenAI is not only addressing compliance and privacy concerns but also strengthening its position as a trusted AI partner for enterprises, educational institutions, and developers in Asia.

Looking Ahead

OpenAI’s introduction of data residency in Asia follows similar initiatives in Europe and signals the company’s commitment to supporting international customers with robust, compliant, and secure AI infrastructure. As more organizations turn to AI for business and education, features like data residency are expected to become standard requirements for global cloud and AI service providers.

Summary

OpenAI’s new data residency features in Japan, India, Singapore, and South Korea enable organizations to store sensitive data locally, helping them meet regulatory requirements while benefiting from OpenAI’s advanced AI tools and enterprise-grade security