
OpenAI Deactivates Three-Year-Old Pro Account Used for Bug Bounty Work, Permanently Cutting Off All Chat History and Files
A long-time OpenAI user has publicly detailed the sudden deactivation of a three-year-old account that held both ChatGPT Pro and the specialized Daybreak Blue cyber access program. The account, used for legitimate penetration testing and bug bounty submissions, was terminated without prior warning after the user accepted the required hardware security token. All accumulated conversations, generated files, and project data became immediately inaccessible, with no export option available even after repeated appeals. Support channels, including AI-moderated chat and direct email, refused to reopen the case or provide any data recovery path. The incident highlights growing reports of similar account terminations on Reddit and raises questions about the value of OpenAI’s trusted-access programs for security researchers. The affected user is now considering chargeback options through their bank while warning others to regularly export important data.
HabrSep 21, 2026Translated from Russian