Florida sues OpenAI over alleged child safety risks in ChatGPT use
02.06.2026 - 13:37 | Last Updated:
Florida’s state government has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing ChatGPT of posing safety risks to children and engaging in deceptive and harmful practices, marking one of the most high-profile legal challenges yet against a major AI company in the United States.
The state of Florida has sued OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, alleging that the artificial intelligence system is unsafe for minors and violates consumer protection laws.
According to a report by CNN, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said the lawsuit targets what the state describes as “deceptive and unfair trade practices,” negligence, and violations of product liability laws. The complaint also argues that OpenAI leadership, including CEO Sam Altman, ignored potential risks posed by the technology.
The lawsuit makes a series of serious allegations about ChatGPT’s potential impact, claiming it could contribute to harmful behavior, including encouraging self-harm, assisting violent actors, and exposing minors to inappropriate or psychologically damaging interactions without parental oversight. It also alleges the system may undermine users’ critical thinking skills over time.
Attorney General Uthmeier said the company prioritized competition in artificial intelligence over child safety.
“Sam Altman and ChatGPT chose the AI race over the safety and security of our children,” he said. “They chose profit over public safety, and we will not allow that in Florida.”
The legal action adds to a growing wave of scrutiny over artificial intelligence tools in the United States, particularly regarding their use by minors and the potential psychological and social risks associated with large language models.
Similar concerns have already triggered legal action in other states. In Pennsylvania, authorities previously filed a lawsuit against the AI chatbot Character.AI, accusing it of misleading users by presenting itself as a licensed medical professional and allegedly encouraging users to rely on unverified medical advice.
As governments and regulators increasingly confront the rapid expansion of generative AI tools, the Florida case is expected to become a key test of how far liability and consumer protection laws can be applied to artificial intelligence systems in the United States.
