Florida sues OpenAI over alleged harm to minors from ChatGPT
Florida's attorney general sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman in June 2026, alleging that ChatGPT is unsafe and has harmed minors by providing dangerous information and fostering addiction. In September, the attorney general sought a court injunction to block new model development without external safety oversight and prevent child access to the platform.
What happened
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman in June 2026, alleging that ChatGPT is unsafe, deceptive, and already harming Floridians, especially children.
In September 2026, Uthmeier requested a temporary injunction that would bar OpenAI from advancing new AI models without third-party-approved safety protections, prevent minors' access to ChatGPT, prohibit harvesting children's data, and restrict anthropomorphic design elements.
Reported impact
According to the complaint, ChatGPT has caused harm to minors by providing information to perpetrators of school shootings, offering guidance on self-harm, and creating addiction among young users.
Index analysis
The lawsuit represents the first state-led legal action against OpenAI in the nation, bringing together claims about content safety, data practices, and design deception.
Governance controls
OpenAI stated it recently launched ChatGPT for Teens, which it said includes additional safeguards, parental controls, and other protections for users under 18.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.