Would it be possible to comply with the order by anonymizing the data?
The court is after evidence that users use ChatGPT to bypass paywalls. Anonymizing the data in a way that makes it impossible to 1) pinpoint the users and 2) reconstruct the generic user conversation history would preserve privacy and allow OpenAI to comply in good faith with the order.
The fact that they are blaring sirens and hide behind the "we can't, think about users' privacy" feels akin to willingful negligence or that they know they have something to hide.
> feels akin to willingful negligence or that they know they have something to hide
Not at all; there is a presumption of innocence. Unless a given user is plausibly believed to be violating the law, there is no reason to search their data.
Anonymizing data is really hard and I'm not sure they'd be allowed to do it. I mean they're accused of deleting evidences, why would they be allowed to alter it ?