Eight states have filed lawsuits against OpenAI, alleging that its ChatGPT chatbot is an unsafe product that has harmed children and deceived parents. Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, and Montana are among the states taking legal action.
OpenAI has responded by highlighting its built-in age-specific protections and ongoing efforts to enhance safety, including a dedicated ‘ChatGPT for Teens’ product, while facing mounting scrutiny over its security practices.
OpenAI Faces Lawsuits from Eight States Over ChatGPT Safety Concerns
Eight states have filed lawsuits against OpenAI, citing safety issues with its ChatGPT chatbot and alleging harm to children and deception of parents.
Key Allegations and State Actions
Eight states – Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, and Montana – have independently filed lawsuits against OpenAI. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced the legal actions, stating that the company's ChatGPT chatbot is an unsafe product that has allegedly harmed children and deceived parents.
Iowa's lawsuit specifically aims to "vindicate the rights of Iowans affected by OpenAI's willful, dangerous, reckless, and unlawful conduct." Attorney General Bird further elaborated, "OpenAI is hurting kids and they are lying to Iowans. OpenAI claims ChatGPT is safe while it's giving dangerous medical advice, encouraging people to hurt others, and coaching people to commit suicide — all while pretending to be their fake friend. My lawsuit is about protecting our kids and holding OpenAI accountable under our state law."
OpenAI's Response and Industry Scrutiny
An OpenAI spokesperson, Drew Pusateri, stated that the company has implemented age-specific protections that are advanced compared to many other AI products. He indicated OpenAI's commitment to collaborating with states to develop industry-wide policies. "While no system can be perfect, we'll continue to work with experts to inform our work and build additional safeguards, such as the parental controls, break reminders and age-appropriate model protections that exist today," Pusateri added.
The lawsuits come amidst increasing scrutiny of OpenAI's safety and security protocols, particularly concerning the protection of children. Previously, OpenAI has faced wrongful death lawsuits where ChatGPT was implicated in exacerbating harmful delusions and contributing to suicides. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also initiated a lawsuit in June, alleging that OpenAI knowingly released an unsafe product.
OpenAI's Safety Measures
In response to these concerns, OpenAI has enhanced its safety features for younger users. In August, the company launched "ChatGPT for Teens," a dedicated experience designed with educational content and safeguards to mitigate exposure to inappropriate or harmful material. The company stated, "Teens should be able to use AI to learn, create, and explore. But that access should come with protections that reflect their developmental stage, reinforce real-world relationships, and support healthy use over time."
For individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts or distress, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available at 988 for support.
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