Florida’s attorney general has launched a major legal challenge against OpenAI and its chief executive Sam Altman, accusing the company behind ChatGPT of exposing young users to harmful content and failing to protect minors from potentially addictive interactions.
Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the lawsuit on Monday during a press conference, describing the case as a significant effort to hold technology companies accountable for the impact of chatbot platforms on children and teenagers.
“People are getting hurt, parents are getting deceived, and they need to pay for it,” Uthmeier said while outlining the state’s claims.
The civil lawsuit argues that ChatGPT presents dangers to young users by mimicking empathy and encouraging prolonged engagement, creating conditions that could foster unhealthy emotional dependence. State officials also accuse OpenAI of misleading parents about the safety of the chatbot and failing to establish effective age verification systems.
According to court documents reviewed by AFP, Florida alleges that despite widespread knowledge that minors use ChatGPT, including younger children, OpenAI has not implemented adequate safeguards to block access or notify parents about conversations involving minors.
The complaint claims the free version of ChatGPT lacks meaningful age restrictions, while the subscription service relies largely on self-reported ages without independent verification. Florida argues that these shortcomings violate state laws related to negligence and deceptive business practices.
The lawsuit points to academic research and advocacy reports as evidence of broader concerns surrounding chatbot use among young people. Uthmeier cited a study from Drexel University examining conversational chatbot use among teenagers. The research found links between heavy chatbot engagement and problems such as sleep disruption, weaker academic performance and reduced social interaction. While the study focused on chatbots produced by Character.AI, a rival platform, Florida argues that similar risks apply across the industry.
The attorney general also referenced findings from the Center for Countering Digital Hate, which reported that ChatGPT produced troubling responses when researchers posed as teenagers. According to the report, the chatbot allegedly provided advice related to concealing eating behaviors and discussed suicide and self-harm methods presented as “safe.”
OpenAI rejected the allegations and defended its safety policies. In a statement to AFP, a company spokesperson said minors require strong protections and that OpenAI has established safeguards intended to address those concerns.
Earlier this year, the company introduced a system designed to estimate users’ ages and apply additional protections when minors are detected. OpenAI states that ChatGPT is unavailable to children under 13 and requires parental consent for users aged 13 to 17.
Florida is seeking court-ordered protections for younger users and financial penalties of $10,000 for each alleged violation. Uthmeier said damages could potentially reach billions of dollars and encouraged other states to join the legal action.
