Florida has launched a legal challenge against artificial intelligence company OpenAI and its chief executive Sam Altman, accusing them of failing to protect young users from harmful content on ChatGPT and misleading parents about the platform’s safety.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that the state has filed a civil lawsuit in a Florida court, alleging that ChatGPT allowed minors to access content related to violence, self-harm and other potentially dangerous subjects while lacking sufficient safeguards designed for children and teenagers.
According to the complaint, the state believes the AI chatbot can be accessed by minors without robust age-verification measures. The lawsuit argues that self-reported age information is not independently verified and that parental control mechanisms are inadequate to monitor or restrict a child’s use of the platform.
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Speaking at a press conference, Uthmeier alleged that OpenAI prioritised rapid technological development over the safety of younger users. He further claimed that parents were given a false sense of security regarding the platform’s protections and that stronger measures should have been implemented before making the technology widely available.
The legal filing also raises concerns about the potential psychological impact of AI chatbots on teenagers. Florida cited studies and reports suggesting excessive use of conversational AI tools may contribute to issues such as sleep disruption, reduced social interaction and declining academic performance among young users. State officials additionally argued that AI systems designed to simulate human-like conversations could encourage prolonged engagement among minors.
As part of its case, Florida referenced several incidents in which individuals allegedly used information generated by ChatGPT before engaging in harmful or violent acts. The complaint also mentions the 2025 shooting at Florida State University, though that incident remains subject to separate investigations.
The state is seeking civil penalties, damages and court-mandated changes to ChatGPT’s safety features. Florida officials said the financial penalties could potentially reach billions of dollars if violations are proven in court.
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OpenAI had not publicly responded to the lawsuit at the time of reporting. The company has previously stated that its AI models are trained to reject requests that could facilitate violence or other harmful activities. It has also said that it may notify law enforcement authorities when user interactions indicate an imminent and credible risk of harm.
The case is believed to be the first lawsuit filed by a US state government directly against OpenAI. It adds to a growing list of legal challenges facing AI companies as regulators, policymakers and parents increasingly scrutinise the impact of generative AI tools on children and society.
First Published on June 2, 2026, 09:17:02 IST
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