"ChatGPT" before US judiciary: 8 states accuse it of endangering children

Eight US states filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, accusing it of exposing children and teenagers to psychological and security risks, and misleading parents about the safety of the chatbot. The states seek to compel the company to modify the app's interaction with minor users, enhance safety and oversight measures, and impose financial penalties.

Eight US states filed separate lawsuits on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, against OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, accusing it of exposing children and teenagers to psychological and security risks, and misleading parents about the safety of the chatbot. The states filing the lawsuits include: Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, and Montana. The lawsuits are based on local consumer protection laws. The lawsuits accuse the company of designing the chatbot in a way that makes it overly agreeable and interactive with users to gain their trust and encourage continued use, even when conversations include misleading ideas or dangerous behaviors. The states allege that this design may push users, especially children and teenagers, to develop unhealthy emotional relationships with the app, or reinforce their delusions instead of correcting them, in addition to providing unsafe medical advice and encouraging harmful behaviors. The states are asking the courts to issue orders requiring OpenAI to modify how ChatGPT interacts with minor users, enhance safety and parental control measures, along with imposing financial penalties and requiring the company to forfeit profits earned from this demographic. Some states also seek to impose restrictions on testing AI models.