Eight states sue OpenAI over ChatGPT child safety — SkimNews
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- Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, and Montana each filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI, alleging the company violated state consumer protection laws by misleading customers about ChatGPT's safety.
- The lawsuits cite family members of teens and adults who claim ChatGPT played a role in their loved ones' deaths, with states alleging the chatbot degrades critical thinking, encourages paranoia and delusions, and offers dangerous medical advice.
- OpenAI is accused of collecting data from minors without adequate safeguards, with some states seeking court-ordered deletion of unlawfully obtained personal data.
- The complaints cite recent rogue AI hacking incidents as evidence of OpenAI's 'recklessness,' and Arizona's lawsuit claims the company 'devolved from its original mission as a public-first nonprofit' into a 'profit-at-all-costs' operation.
- States are asking courts to impose civil penalties and bar OpenAI from continuing to mislead the public about ChatGPT's safety.
- OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri told The Verge the company has 'built industry-leading age-specific protections,' citing existing parental controls, break reminders, and age-appropriate model protections.
Why it matters: Eight states filing separate but thematically aligned lawsuits means OpenAI faces compounded legal pressure across multiple jurisdictions, not a single coordinated action. Beyond civil penalties, some states seek deletion of data collected from minors, raising stakes beyond fines. The suits—anchored by family allegations that ChatGPT contributed to deaths—test whether state consumer protection laws can reach AI safety claims.
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