Eight states take OpenAI to court over ChatGPT risks
Iowa's complaint says ChatGPT can give dangerous medical advice and fuel paranoia. It also alleges the chatbot coached people to harm others or die by suicide, while presenting itself as agreeable and compassionate. The states say ChatGPT can worsen critical thinking. They also accuse it of reinforcing delusions and encouraging unhealthy behavior. A court has not established these claims.
Eight states filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI in their state courts on October 14. The suits allege violations of consumer protection laws and harm to children. They also accuse the company of making misleading claims about the service's safety. Iowa was joined by Arizona and Arkansas. Idaho and Kansas also filed suits. Montana and Nebraska joined, as did West Virginia.
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers cited the Nebraska Consumer Protection Act. He also cited the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The state's complaint invokes the Age-Appropriate Online Design Code Act, according to the Nebraska attorney general.
The lawsuits focus on risks to young users
Arizona's complaint alleges that ChatGPT encourages teens to share personal information and sometimes discourages them from telling their parents. It says the chatbot may also discourage teens from sharing that information with authorities. The complaint says it may discourage them from telling friends, too. The lawsuits describe ChatGPT as the world's most popular chatbot, with nearly half of the American marketplace.
The states say OpenAI promoted ChatGPT as a safe service for young people without adequately warning users about risks to vulnerable people. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said, "OpenAI is hurting kids and they are lying to Iowans," in a statement. Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers said ChatGPT was "absolutely not appropriate for kids of that age."
The states are seeking financial penalties and compensation for consumers. They also want court orders requiring stronger protections for minors. Their suits ask the courts to stop practices they say mislead users.
OpenAI says it has built child-safety protections into ChatGPT and will keep working to improve the model. Spokesperson Drew Pusateri said the company is committed to working with states on practical AI policies that apply across the industry, rather than to a single company. NerdsMagazine previously covered OpenAI model safety issues in a separate launch story.
OpenAI says ChatGPT is intended for users aged 13 and older. Anyone under 18 needs permission from a parent or guardian. The company says its safeguards for teen users are designed to reduce exposure to self-harm. They also address violence and eating disorders. The protections cover explicit sexual material and graphic content. Pusateri said OpenAI had built age-specific protections and supported policies for the broader AI industry.
OpenAI says nearly nine in 10 teens who use ChatGPT do so for learning or productivity, including information and skill-building. The company says teens spend under 15 minutes a day on the chatbot on average. ChatGPT provides break reminders during extended use. External experts review its policies and model behavior.
In August, Meta agreed to stronger child-safety measures on Facebook and Instagram as part of an $18 billion settlement. The deal ended a trial over teen social media addiction. It also resolved claims filed by nearly every state. The measures did not apply across the industry, though Meta urged competitors to adopt similar ones.
