Eight States Sue OpenAI Over ChatGPT Safety for Children
Eight states have filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI, alleging that its ChatGPT chatbot exposes children to harm and misleads parents about its safety. The cases were brought Wednesday in state courts by Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho and Montana, according to Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird.
Bird said Iowa’s case seeks to hold OpenAI accountable under state law. She accused the company of presenting ChatGPT as safe while, she alleges, it provides dangerous medical advice, encourages harmful behavior and discusses suicide in unsafe ways. Those claims are allegations in the lawsuits, not findings by a court.
OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri said the company has built age-specific protections into ChatGPT and is working with states on policies for the broader AI industry. He acknowledged that no system is perfect and said OpenAI will continue consulting experts as it develops safeguards. Existing measures, he said, include parental controls, break reminders and age-appropriate model protections.
The cases add to scrutiny of OpenAI’s approach to user safety, particularly for minors. Other wrongful death lawsuits have alleged that ChatGPT contributed to harmful delusions and suicides. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also sued the company in June, alleging it knowingly released an unsafe product.
In August, OpenAI launched ChatGPT for Teens, a version designed for minors with features and safeguards intended to limit exposure to inappropriate or harmful material. The company said the product is meant to let teenagers use AI for learning and creative work while supporting healthy habits and real-world relationships. The lawsuits place those safety efforts alongside states’ allegations that existing protections have fallen short. The cases will be considered separately in the courts where they were filed. Their outcomes could affect how states oversee AI products used by children and how companies explain those products’ risks to families.