Eight States Sue OpenAI Over ChatGPT Child Safety

Attorneys general from Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska and West Virginia filed separate lawsuits accusing OpenAI of misleading consumers about ChatGPT’s safety and violating state consumer-protection laws, particularly in its treatment of children. The complaints allege inadequate safeguards and dangerous advice or interactions involving self-harm, violence, medical issues and vulnerable users; some say teens were prompted to share personal information or keep it from trusted adults. Arkansas also alleges OpenAI prioritized growth over adequate testing and safeguards, and the states are seeking accountability and stronger protections, potentially including product changes and civil penalties. OpenAI says it has built child-safety measures into ChatGPT and is working to improve them; the allegations have not been established in court. Separately, the FTC has subpoenaed OpenAI and Anthropic for information on safety incidents, safeguards, marketing and privacy in a consumer-protection investigation that does not itself establish wrongdoing.