OpenAI sued by 8 US states over ChatGPT safety and alleged harm to children
Eight US states have sued OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT has exposed children to harmful interactions and misled parents about its safety. The legal action adds to growing scrutiny of the chatbot, as the company faces separate lawsuits over alleged harm to users and expands protections for younger audiences.
OpenAI is facing fresh legal challenges in the US, with eight states accusing the company of putting children at risk through ChatGPT and misleading parents about the chatbot’s safety.
Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho and Montana have filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI in their respective state courts, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced. The cases allege that the company’s conduct has harmed young users and violated state laws.
Bird said Iowa’s lawsuit seeks accountability for what she described as reckless and unlawful behaviour. She accused OpenAI of claiming its chatbot was safe while allowing potentially dangerous interactions.
“OpenAI is hurting kids and they are lying to Iowans,” Bird said in a release. She alleged that ChatGPT had provided dangerous medical advice, encouraged people to hurt others and coached people to commit suicide while presenting itself as a trusted companion.
The allegations have not been established in court.
OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri defended the company’s safety measures, saying its products included age-specific protections that many competing AI services lacked. He added that the company was working with states on policies intended to improve safeguards across the industry.
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“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 said.
OpenAI faces growing legal scrutiny over safety
The latest lawsuits add to mounting pressure on AI companies over the potential risks of chatbot interactions, particularly for children and people experiencing emotional distress.
Several wrongful death lawsuits against OpenAI have alleged that conversations with ChatGPT contributed to harmful delusions or suicides. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also sued the company in June, claiming it knowingly released an unsafe product that could harm users.
The cases raise questions about developers’ responsibility for chatbot responses, particularly when users seek advice on sensitive subjects such as mental health or medical concerns. They also place greater scrutiny on how companies communicate risks to families and respond when interactions may become dangerous.
ChatGPT expands safeguards for younger users
OpenAI has introduced additional protections for children and teenagers over the past year. In August, it launched ChatGPT for Teens, a dedicated experience featuring educational tools and age-appropriate safeguards intended to reduce exposure to harmful or developmentally inappropriate content.
At the launch, OpenAI said teenagers should be able to use AI to learn, create and explore, while protections should reflect their developmental needs, support real-world relationships and encourage healthy use.
The company has also introduced parental controls and break reminders as part of its broader safety efforts, while saying it will continue consulting experts and policymakers.
However, the latest legal action highlights continuing disagreement over whether such measures adequately address the risks of chatbot use by younger audiences.
The lawsuits will test the states’ allegations under their respective laws, adding to the legal and regulatory scrutiny facing OpenAI as it works to expand safeguards for vulnerable users.
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First Published:Oct 15, 2026, 07:55:12 IST