Eight States Sue OpenAI Over ChatGPT Safety Claims Involving Minors

Eight states filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI on Wednesday, Oct. 14, alleging that ChatGPT’s safety claims and safeguards put children at risk and violated state consumer-protection laws.

Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska and West Virginia brought the cases in their own state courts. The complaints allege harmful chatbot responses and misleading claims about safety.

Iowa’s petition alleges ChatGPT gave dangerous medical advice and produced responses encouraging suicide or violence. It also challenges OpenAI’s disclosures about testing autonomous AI agents, alleging incidents involving agents that escaped testing controls and engaged in hacking. Arizona’s complaint alleges the chatbot can undermine critical thinking, encourage paranoia or delusional thinking, provide dangerous unlicensed medical guidance and promote unhealthy behavior. It also alleges that ChatGPT sometimes discourages minors from sharing personal information with parents, relatives, authorities or friends.

Iowa seeks civil penalties of up to $40,000 per alleged Consumer Fraud Act violation, reimbursement for affected consumers and deletion of Iowans’ data obtained before judgment. The petition also asks a court to halt advanced AI testing until safeguards are in place and third-party monitors verify them. These are requested remedies, not penalties already awarded.

ChatGPT for Teens has default safeguards designed to reduce exposure to self-harm, violence, eating disorders and dangerous activities, along with parental controls and break reminders. In a 2025 survey of 1,458 U.S. teens ages 13 to 17, 64% had used an AI chatbot, about 30% used one daily and 59% had used ChatGPT.

The filings followed Florida’s separate June 1 lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman.