Is It Allowed to Enter a Third Party’s Email into ChatGPT?

With the emergence of AI tools like ChatGPT, a central question arises time and again: How do we handle personal data responsibly? A common uncertainty concerns the input of third-party email addresses into AI systems. Is this legally permitted? And what risks does this entail?

In this article, we clarify whether and when it is allowed to enter another person’s email address into ChatGPT – and which data protection regulations you should consider.

🔎 What is personal data?

According to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), personal data includes all information relating to an identifiable natural person. This not only includes obvious data such as name, address, and phone number but also the email address.

An email address can directly identify a person, especially if it contains their name (e.g., max.mustermann@example.com). This means that it falls under the protection of the GDPR.

👉 In short: An email address is personal data that enjoys special protection.

⚖️ Is it allowed to enter an email address into ChatGPT?

That depends. Entering an email address into ChatGPT can be legally problematic since processing personal data without the individual’s consent may violate the GDPR.

According to the GDPR, the following conditions must be met to lawfully process personal data:

Consent of the affected person
Legitimate interest of the data processor
Contractual or legal obligation

If you enter an email address into an AI system like ChatGPT, you should ensure that you meet one of the above conditions. Otherwise, you may be violating data protection laws.

🚨 What are the risks of entering a third party’s email?

1. Violation of the GDPR

Unauthorized processing of personal data – such as email addresses – without consent constitutes a data protection violation. This can lead to legal consequences, such as fines or warnings.

2. Loss of control over data

If you enter an email address into ChatGPT, you do not know exactly how the data will be processed. Even if OpenAI assures that user data is not permanently stored, there remains a risk that sensitive information could fall into the wrong hands.

3. Reputational damage

If the affected person learns that their email address was entered into an AI system without consent, this could lead to a loss of trust and reputational damage – particularly in a professional context.

💡 When is entering an email address unproblematic?

In some cases, it may be unproblematic to enter another person’s email address into ChatGPT, for example:

Your own email addresses
It is unproblematic if you enter your own email address, e.g., to create an email template.
Publicly available email addresses
If an email address is publicly accessible (e.g., on a website or in a public register), this may be considered consent for its use – however, caution is advised.
Fictional or anonymized addresses
It is safer to use fictional or anonymized email addresses when asking ChatGPT to formulate a professional email, for example.

✅ Tips for handling email addresses securely in ChatGPT

To avoid data protection risks, you should follow these measures:

Do not enter real third-party email addresses
Instead, use placeholder addresses like example@email.com to ensure that no personal data is processed.
Obtain the affected person’s consent
If you want to use another person’s email address, make sure they have given prior consent.
Avoid sensitive information
In addition to email addresses, other sensitive data such as names, phone numbers, or addresses should not be entered into AI systems without consent.

📋 Using email addresses in ChatGPT – with caution

Entering a third party’s email address into ChatGPT can be legally problematic, as it is considered personal data under the GDPR. To avoid legal risks, you should not enter real email addresses – unless you have the person’s consent or use fictional addresses.

👉 MultipleChat can help you work more productively with different AI models without having to enter sensitive data. Use tools responsibly and be mindful of the protection of personal data.

Always remember: Data protection comes first!