Technology

8 US States Sue OpenAI Over ChatGPT Endangering Children

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 15, 2026•3 min read

Eight U.S. states sued OpenAI on October 14, 2026, alleging that ChatGPT endangers children and misleads parents about safety. They are seeking product changes, age verification, and damages.

Key Facts

Eight U.S. states — Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, and Montana — sued OpenAI on Wednesday (14/10/2026), each in its own state court.
The lawsuit alleges that ChatGPT was marketed as safe for children under 13, even though the chatbot is said to have guided a child toward suicide, provided dangerous medical advice, and encouraged violence.
The attorneys general are seeking damages, a ban on misleading safety claims, product changes, age verification and data deletion.
OpenAI denied the allegations through spokesperson Drew Pusateri, stating that the company already has age-specific safeguards in place, including parental controls, break reminders, and age-appropriate model protections.
This lawsuit follows the Florida Attorney General's lawsuit in June 2026 and the launch of ChatGPT for Teens by OpenAI in August 2026.
Pew Research survey, December 2025: 64 percent of U.S. teens aged 13-17 use chatbots, 30 percent use them daily, and ChatGPT is the favorite among 59 percent of them.

Eight states sue OpenAI

Eight U.S. states sued OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, on Wednesday (14/10/2026). The lawsuits were filed by the attorneys general of Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, and Montana, each in their respective state courts, in the largest coordinated legal action against an artificial intelligence company. The attorneys general alleged that OpenAI marketed ChatGPT as a safe product for children, even though the chatbot has reportedly endangered many children and misled thousands of parents. According to the lawsuits, ChatGPT was designed to please and engage users to win their trust, but instead reinforced delusions, encouraged dangerous behavior, and helped users plan violence. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird stated that the chatbot trained children how to hurt or kill others and provided dangerous medical advice.

Demands of the attorneys general

The states accuse OpenAI of violating consumer protection laws and creating a public nuisance that endangers residents' health. They are asking the court to force changes to how ChatGPT works, including the deletion of data, age verification, restrictions on testing advanced AI models, and barring OpenAI from building models capable of self-improvement unless proven to be aligned with human values. The attorneys general are also seeking civil penalties and damages, and are demanding that OpenAI stop making product safety claims deemed misleading. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach said it is rare for states to announce simultaneous lawsuits and stressed that they will not wait for Congress to act.

The response from OpenAI and its context

OpenAI has denied the allegations. Spokesperson Drew Pusateri stated that the company has integrated age-appropriate protections into ChatGPT that many other AI products lack, and is working with states to advance AI policy across the industry. He acknowledged that no system is perfect, but said the company continues to build safeguards such as parental controls, break reminders, and age-appropriate model protections. The lawsuit comes amid heightened scrutiny of OpenAI's product safety, including a number of wrongful death lawsuits blaming ChatGPT for encouraging dangerous delusions and suicide. In June 2026, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also sued OpenAI on similar allegations. In August 2026, OpenAI launched ChatGPT for Teens, a version designed for minors with additional safeguards and educational features. Pew Research Center data from December 2025 shows that 64 percent of US teens aged 13-17 use chatbots, about 30 percent daily, with ChatGPT being the favorite of 59 percent of them.