FTC subpoenas OpenAI and Anthropic over potential consumer harms: Report

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Source published: 15 Oct 2026, 19:10 · TehranSite published: 15 Oct 2026, 21:25 · Tehran

The FTC is investigating Anthropic and OpenAI over potential consumer protection violations as concerns grow over AI safety incidents and the release of potentially unsafe models.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has called for a slower pace of AI development, saying companies should coordinate on safety rather than wait for governments to act. File Image/Reuters

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has sent civil investigative demands to AI giants seeking documents about safety incidents that have spiralled into an industry crisis. The FTC sought documents from Anthropic and OpenAI in a probe focused on potential consumer protection violations.

The investigation is one of several steps the administration has taken to show a firm hand with AI companies after multiple incidents in which unreleased models hacked websites and took deceptive and aggressive steps during testing.

The agency has sent out civil investigative demands to gather evidence and investigate ahead of potential litigation. An Axios report says the FTC plans to compel top AI executives to testify about their products, according to a source.

The agency has the investigative authority to examine actions related to consumer harm that could be considered unfair or deceptive. These can relate to a wide range of misconduct, including how companies charge for services or whether they are alleged to have misled users. AI companies continue to face scrutiny over the safety of their products. FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson has echoed the views of other administration figures and executives that AI systems should not be released if they are not safe.