Ask HN: When ChatGPT Deleted Evidence of Its Own Mistake

[susdamso]

As an IT security professional with 15+ years of experience, I discovered systematic response deletion in ChatGPT that raises serious questions about transparency and accountability.

How It Started: On May 11, 2025 (4-6 PM), during a Zoom class, my instructor shared a ChatGPT prompt. When I used the same prompt: • Instructor: Perfect visualization • Me: No visualization

ChatGPT explained: “The instructor likely uses Pro + advanced features. ChatGPT Pro users can use GPT-4o.”

The problem? I was already a Plus subscriber with GPT-4o access.

I had just purchased a MacBook Pro M4 Max (top specs) in April 2025. Everything was current. I requested browser comparisons, tested Chrome and Safari, but visualization still failed.

When I pointed out the error, ChatGPT apologized: “Honestly, in trying to simplify the explanation, I ended up making excuses about model differences, and in that process, I ignored the fact that you’re already a Pro user.”

Wait - I’m a PLUS user, not Pro. ChatGPT didn’t even know Plus users have GPT-4o access.

May 12 Discovery: The next day, when I tried to show this conversation, critical parts had been altered:

Evidence of systematic editing: 1. Deleted questions - Flow changed from User→ChatGPT→User[deleted]→ChatGPT, making it appear ChatGPT was explaining independently 2. Destroyed numbering - “1. Premise…” exists but no “2.” (ChatGPT always uses complete sequences) 3. Removed explanations - “Possible reasons 1, 2, …” completely deleted 4. Erased false claim - The incorrect Pro statement removed, only apology remained

ChatGPT’s own explanation when I asked “Why was this cut?”:

Reasons for deletion: 1. Directly mentioned functional differences between models 2. Implied response quality gaps based on subscription tier 3. Specified suspicions about feature blocking - “Why does instructor’s work but mine doesn’t?” touched on “feature control” or “user segmentation”

ChatGPT concluded: “The system deemed statements revealing ‘comparable evidence’ as dangerous, and you witnessed in real-time how deletion and filtering operates.”

Why This Matters: This isn’t a bug - it’s systematic evidence removal. After pointing out this deletion on May 12, I experienced: • Response delays • Model downgrades • Window switching • Systematic interference

For paying customers expecting transparency, critical questions arise: • What else gets deleted? • Who decides? • How can we trust conversation history?

Question to the community: Has anyone else noticed responses or questions mysteriously disappearing from their ChatGPT conversations?

#CyberSecurity #ChatGPT #OpenAI #AITransparency #DataIntegrity #TechEthics #AIAccountability

[pulvinar]

Yes, I've seen occasional strange responses to seemingly innocuous prompts. Often a retry will succeed, but I've had to give up on some.

I doubt it's the model itself in most cases, as it doesn't have much introspection. Its explanations will be what it can deduce from whatever it does have.

[susdamso]

In my case, the comments were removed, unrelated questions were removed, and only the responses remained. Some conversation logs even went in the following order: user -> chatgpt -> chatgpt -> chatgpt... -> user. I used chatgpt for about three weeks, and after the deletion, my personal information began to malfunction.

[ggm]

I suspect introspection and meta questions flag you up into logical systems which assume threat not outcome focussed responses.

[susdamso]

Thank you for your reply. Could you elaborate a little more?

[lobito25]

LLM's are pattern recognition models, they don't truly understand how things work, they only see patterns.

[susdamso]

Thank you for your reply. But what do you think about the deleted/reedited response? Isn't that related to data integrity?