OpenAI API

API platform for GPT, DALL-E, Whisper and other foundation models

Scaleway Generative APIs

EU-sovereign managed LLM inference from France's developer-first cloud provider

OpenAI API

Moderate

14/25

Scaleway Generative APIs

Excellent

23/25

Score Breakdown

DimensionOpenAI APIScaleway Generative APIs

Data Residency

Where is your data stored and processed?

OpenAI API: All data processed on US-based Microsoft Azure infrastructure. No EU data residency option available. Enterprise customers cannot choose hosting region.

Scaleway Generative APIs: All inference processed in French data centres (Paris region). Maximum EU data sovereignty. French cloud, French law, French infrastructure.

2/5

All data processed on US-based Microsoft Azure infrastructure. No EU data residency option available. Enterprise customers cannot choose hosting region.

5/5

All inference processed in French data centres (Paris region). Maximum EU data sovereignty. French cloud, French law, French infrastructure.

Legal Jurisdiction

Which laws govern the company and your data?

OpenAI API: US Delaware LLC subject to US jurisdiction including CLOUD Act. Offers GDPR-compliant DPA for EU customers, but legal entity is solely US-based.

Scaleway Generative APIs: French SAS under French law. GDPR applies as corporate law. Iliad Group is a French parent company. No US entity, no CLOUD Act. GAIA-X participant and committed to EU cloud sovereignty principles.

2/5

US Delaware LLC subject to US jurisdiction including CLOUD Act. Offers GDPR-compliant DPA for EU customers, but legal entity is solely US-based.

5/5

French SAS under French law. GDPR applies as corporate law. Iliad Group is a French parent company. No US entity, no CLOUD Act. GAIA-X participant and committed to EU cloud sovereignty principles.

Data Retention & Training

Is your data used for model training?

OpenAI API: API data not used for model training by default. Zero data retention option available. Clear data retention policies documented. Abuse monitoring data retained for 30 days.

Scaleway Generative APIs: Inference data not used for shared model training. Per-project data isolation. GDPR-compliant data processing with configurable retention for enterprise accounts.

4/5

API data not used for model training by default. Zero data retention option available. Clear data retention policies documented. Abuse monitoring data retained for 30 days.

4/5

Inference data not used for shared model training. Per-project data isolation. GDPR-compliant data processing with configurable retention for enterprise accounts.

Certifications

ISO 27001, SOC 2, Cyber Essentials, etc.

OpenAI API: SOC 2 Type II certified. GDPR DPA available. No ISO 27001 or C5 certification publicly disclosed.

Scaleway Generative APIs: Scaleway holds ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, and SOC 2 Type II certifications across its cloud platform. Strong certification portfolio for a European cloud provider. HDS certification may be relevant for healthcare use cases—verify availability for Generative APIs product specifically.

3/5

SOC 2 Type II certified. GDPR DPA available. No ISO 27001 or C5 certification publicly disclosed.

4/5

Scaleway holds ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, and SOC 2 Type II certifications across its cloud platform. Strong certification portfolio for a European cloud provider. HDS certification may be relevant for healthcare use cases—verify availability for Generative APIs product specifically.

Regulatory Fit

Suitability for regulated industries and professional services

OpenAI API: Suitable for many business use cases with appropriate DPA. Enterprise tier offers enhanced compliance. Not ideal for highly regulated EU industries requiring data sovereignty.

Scaleway Generative APIs: Excellent fit for European developers and businesses requiring EU-sovereign LLM inference. French jurisdiction, strong certifications, and GDPR-native posture make this one of the best choices for compliance-conscious EU organisations building AI applications.

3/5

Suitable for many business use cases with appropriate DPA. Enterprise tier offers enhanced compliance. Not ideal for highly regulated EU industries requiring data sovereignty.

5/5

Excellent fit for European developers and businesses requiring EU-sovereign LLM inference. French jurisdiction, strong certifications, and GDPR-native posture make this one of the best choices for compliance-conscious EU organisations building AI applications.

Total Score

14/25

23/25

Best For

OpenAI API

Best for privacy-conscious teams who need strong data retention controls; teams on a tight budget.

Scaleway Generative APIs

Best for EU-headquartered organisations needing maximum data sovereignty; organisations requiring broad certification coverage (ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018); regulated industries (CNIL, BaFin); privacy-conscious teams who need strong data retention controls; teams on a tight budget.

Detailed Comparison

OpenAI API vs Scaleway Generative APIs: Trust & Compliance Comparison

OpenAI API (OpenAI, US) scores 14/25 overall with a Bronze (Moderate) trust badge. API platform for GPT, DALL-E, Whisper and other foundation models. Scaleway Generative APIs (Scaleway, FR) scores 23/25 with a Gold (Excellent) trust badge. EU-sovereign managed LLM inference from France's developer-first cloud provider.

Dimension-by-Dimension Breakdown

#### Data Residency

Scaleway Generative APIs leads with 5/5 vs 2/5.

●OpenAI API (2/5): All data processed on US-based Microsoft Azure infrastructure. No EU data residency option available. Enterprise customers cannot choose hosting region.

●Scaleway Generative APIs (5/5): All inference processed in French data centres (Paris region). Maximum EU data sovereignty. French cloud, French law, French infrastructure.

#### Legal Jurisdiction

Scaleway Generative APIs leads with 5/5 vs 2/5.

●OpenAI API (2/5): US Delaware LLC subject to US jurisdiction including CLOUD Act. Offers GDPR-compliant DPA for EU customers, but legal entity is solely US-based.

●Scaleway Generative APIs (5/5): French SAS under French law. GDPR applies as corporate law. Iliad Group is a French parent company. No US entity, no CLOUD Act. GAIA-X participant and committed to EU cloud sovereignty principles.

#### Data Retention & Training

Both score equally at 4/5.

●OpenAI API (4/5): API data not used for model training by default. Zero data retention option available. Clear data retention policies documented. Abuse monitoring data retained for 30 days.

●Scaleway Generative APIs (4/5): Inference data not used for shared model training. Per-project data isolation. GDPR-compliant data processing with configurable retention for enterprise accounts.

#### Certifications

Scaleway Generative APIs leads with 4/5 vs 3/5.

●OpenAI API (3/5): SOC 2 Type II certified. GDPR DPA available. No ISO 27001 or C5 certification publicly disclosed.

●Scaleway Generative APIs (4/5): Scaleway holds ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, and SOC 2 Type II certifications across its cloud platform. Strong certification portfolio for a European cloud provider. HDS certification may be relevant for healthcare use cases—verify availability for Generative APIs product specifically.

#### Regulatory Fit

Scaleway Generative APIs leads with 5/5 vs 3/5.

●OpenAI API (3/5): Suitable for many business use cases with appropriate DPA. Enterprise tier offers enhanced compliance. Not ideal for highly regulated EU industries requiring data sovereignty.

●Scaleway Generative APIs (5/5): Excellent fit for European developers and businesses requiring EU-sovereign LLM inference. French jurisdiction, strong certifications, and GDPR-native posture make this one of the best choices for compliance-conscious EU organisations building AI applications.

Certifications at a Glance

Certification	OpenAI API	Scaleway Generative APIs
GDPR DPA	Yes	No
ISO 27001	No	Yes
ISO 27017	No	Yes
ISO 27018	No	Yes
SOC 2 Type II	Yes	Yes

Overall Verdict

Scaleway Generative APIs has a clear trust advantage, scoring 23/25 compared to OpenAI API's 14/25. Scaleway Generative APIs particularly excels in data residency, legal jurisdiction, certifications, regulatory fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for EU compliance, OpenAI API or Scaleway Generative APIs?

OpenAI API has a TrustKit score of 14/25 while Scaleway Generative APIs scores 23/25. Scaleway Generative APIs currently rates higher across data residency, legal jurisdiction, data retention, certifications, and regulatory fit.

How do OpenAI API and Scaleway Generative APIs compare on data residency?

OpenAI API scores 2/5 for data residency (All data processed on US-based Microsoft Azure infrastructure. No EU data residency option available. Enterprise customers cannot choose hosting region.), while Scaleway Generative APIs scores 5/5 (All inference processed in French data centres (Paris region). Maximum EU data sovereignty. French cloud, French law, French infrastructure.).

Are OpenAI API and Scaleway Generative APIs GDPR compliant?

Both tools are assessed across five compliance dimensions. OpenAI API has a regulatory fit score of 3/5 and Scaleway Generative APIs scores 5/5. Check the full comparison above for a detailed breakdown.

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OpenAI API

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Scaleway Generative APIs

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