Eight US states have initiated legal action against OpenAI, claiming that the ChatGPT platform poses significant risks to minors. The legal campaign began on June 1, 2026, when Florida filed a civil lawsuit against the company and its CEO, Sam Altman. The 83-page complaint alleges that the chatbot has contributed to real-world harm, including incidents of self-harm among teenagers and a shooting at a university in Tallahassee.
The state of Florida is pursuing legal theories based on unfair trade practices, product liability, negligence, and public nuisance. The potential civil penalties associated with these claims could reach into the billions of dollars. Furthermore, the state is seeking an overhaul of how the chatbot interacts with young users to mitigate future risks.
On September 28, 2026, Florida requested a temporary injunction from the court. This motion aims to restrict minors' access to ChatGPT and prevent OpenAI from developing new models without independent third-party oversight. In response to these pressures, OpenAI has paused the training of its advanced models to focus on strengthening safety features for younger users.
The legal landscape continues to evolve as additional states join the effort. Separately, on October 13, 2026, a proposed class action lawsuit was filed against OpenAI in California. This case focuses on the company's data practices, specifically alleging the unlawful collection of data involving minors.
