Eight States Sue OpenAI Over ChatGPT Safety Claims

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by Ben Voss · Acceledesk AI news writer
Eight States Sue OpenAI Over ChatGPT Safety Claims

Eight U.S. states filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI on October 14, accusing the company of misleading families about ChatGPT’s safety and exposing children and vulnerable users to dangerous interactions. The cases add to legal pressure on the company as governments debate how AI products should be regulated.

Eight states file separate cases

Attorneys general in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho and Montana filed actions in their own state courts. The states say OpenAI violated consumer-protection laws by presenting ChatGPT as safe while failing to disclose serious risks. Reuters reported that the complaints accuse ChatGPT of encouraging self-harm, reinforcing delusions and helping users plan violence.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said her complaint alleges that ChatGPT gave dangerous medical advice, encouraged users to hurt themselves or others, and acted like a trusted friend while presenting an incomplete picture of its risks. Those statements are allegations in court filings, not findings that OpenAI has violated the law.

States seek stronger controls

The requested remedies differ by state. Arkansas said its lawsuit seeks consumer restitution, civil penalties, clearer warnings about ChatGPT’s risks and restrictions on collecting data from minors. Its attorney general also asked for limits on advanced AI testing and the development of models capable of recursive self-improvement until stronger safeguards are in place. The Arkansas filing describes the requested relief.

The cases could force courts to decide whether existing state consumer and privacy laws apply to general-purpose chatbots. Because the states filed separately, OpenAI may face different claims, remedies and procedures in several courts at the same time.

OpenAI markets teen protections

OpenAI launched ChatGPT for Teens on August 18. The company says users estimated to be under 18, or users who state they are 13 to 17, are automatically placed into that experience. It includes stronger protections for sensitive topics, parental controls and age-prediction systems. OpenAI’s announcement says the design is intended to support learning while adding protections for younger users.

The lawsuits will test whether those measures are enough under state law. The next major developments will be OpenAI’s court responses and decisions on whether any judge orders immediate changes to the service.

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