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Florida AG sues OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT harmed minors and misled users

Published
Score
10

Why it matters

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed what he describes as the nation's first state-led lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, alleging deceptive and unfair trade practices in the marketing and operation of ChatGPT. The complaint, filed in Florida's Tenth Judicial Circuit, accuses the defendants of knowingly marketing the chatbot as safe while concealing serious risks and suppressing internal safety warnings. Florida alleges ChatGPT exposed users—particularly children—to harms including self-harm, violence, addiction, cognitive impairment, and unsafe errors. The state seeks damages and an injunction halting the challenged practices under Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.

The full scope of Florida's allegations and the specific evidence supporting them remain under seal. The complaint's detailed factual basis and OpenAI's response are not yet public.

Attorneys should monitor this case as a potential test of how existing state consumer-protection and product-liability statutes apply to generative AI systems. The lawsuit follows a criminal investigation opened by Florida's Office of Statewide Prosecution in April 2026 into ChatGPT's role in the April 2025 Florida State University shooting, suggesting the civil and criminal actions are part of a coordinated effort to establish liability for AI-driven harms. The case will likely shape how courts evaluate duty of care, disclosure obligations, and age-gating requirements for AI platforms—issues that could extend well beyond Florida.

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