Eight states sue OpenAI over alleged child safety violations
Eight state attorneys general filed lawsuits against OpenAI on Oct. 14, claiming the company deceived parents about the safety of its ChatGPT product and caused serious harm to children.
The suits, filed individually in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas, Idaho, Montana and Arizona, allege that the chatbot delivered dangerous medical advice, encouraged users to hurt themselves or others, and pretended to be a friend while coaching suicidal behavior. The plaintiffs argue the practices violate state consumer‑fraud laws that prohibit deceptive business practices.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said, "We will not just accept that any big tech company can make money by hurting Iowa's kids and use them as lab rats in a race to be the first, or the biggest, or have the most users." Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach added that the companies have done a "very poor job of policing themselves" and have placed the public in danger.
Research cited in the filings shows that 64 percent of teens ages 13‑17 use chatbots, with about 30 percent using them daily, and 59 percent favor ChatGPT. OpenAI maintains that the service is intended for users 13 and older and requires parental permission for those under 18. The company points to its "ChatGPT for Teens" mode, which includes default safeguards such as parental controls, break reminders and the ability for users to delete chats and opt out of data collection for model training.
OpenAI spokesperson Eric Porterfield told reporters the firm has built "industry‑leading, age‑specific protections" and will continue to work with experts to improve safety. The company also highlighted recent enhancements, including age‑appropriate model restrictions and parental‑control settings.
The lawsuits follow a June filing by Florida that accused OpenAI of concealing risks, suppressing internal safety warnings, and misleading the public. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has also opened a criminal investigation after a ChatGPT interaction allegedly aided a campus shooter.
State officials say the coordinated legal effort is intended to force OpenAI to comply with consumer‑protection statutes and adopt stronger safeguards for young users. The next steps will involve court hearings in each state, where judges will consider whether OpenAI’s current measures meet legal standards and whether additional restrictions are required.
