Justice · ChatGPT safety lawsuitsEight States Sue OpenAI Over ChatGPT Safety Claims and Risks to ChildrenAired October 15, 2026 at 7:43 AM UTCWritten October 15, 2026 at 7:48 AM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07Eight states are suing OpenAI over ChatGPT's safety claims.0:11They allege the company misled families while children faced risks of harming0:15themselves and others.0:16Consumer reimbursement and deletion of residence data are among the requests.0:20The courts must decide whether OpenAI deceived consumers and what relief they should0:24receive.0:24Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and West Virginia filed actions, along with Arkansas,0:29Arizona, Idaho, and Montana.0:31The coordinated filings came October 14, 2026.0:35Each state brought its own lawsuit, so different laws and court proceedings will0:39govern the cases.0:40The states accuse OpenAI of advertising or presenting its systems as safe while0:44failing to protect vulnerable users.0:46Their allegations reach beyond children to elderly people, too.0:49For parents, the dispute concerns whether they had truthful information to decide0:53how their children should use ChatGPT.0:55The allegations haven't been proven in court.0:57Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird was joined at the State House announcement by1:01Kansas's Chris Kobach, Nebraska's Mike Hilgers, and West Virginia's John B.1:05McCuskie.1:06West Virginia alleges that OpenAI endangered children, deceived parents, and1:10violated state consumer protection laws.1:12Kansas and Arkansas also accuse OpenAI of misleading residents about ChatGPT's1:17safety.1:18Montana's action concerns children and teenagers, including allegations about advice1:23given to minors and people struggling with their mental health.1:25Montana alleges ChatGPT has given dangerous advice to minors and people with mental1:30health struggles.1:31The courts will have to examine the actual exchanges and any connection to harm.1:35There's no confirmed count of children harmed in these cases.1:38Iowa brought its case in Polk County District Court through Byrd.1:42Its petition is reportedly 91 pages long and dated October 14th.1:46The case reaches across eight OpenAI entities, including its foundation and1:50operating companies.1:51OpenAI Foundation is identified under its current and former names in Iowa's1:55petition.1:56The eight corporate defendants would face Iowa's claims within that state's case.2:00The other states are pursuing their own proceedings.2:02Iowa's requests reach into residents' personal information and money they've paid.2:07A court order could require the company to act on data it collected, compensate2:11consumers, or pay penalties.2:13Whether Iowa obtains any of that depends on the case's outcome.2:16Iowa reportedly seeks deletion of data collected from its residents, reimbursement2:20of consumers, and civil penalties.2:22Those requests still need a judge's approval.2:25The exact scope of deletion and reimbursement, and any penalty amount, aren't yet2:29clear.2:30Nebraska alleges violations of three laws.2:33Hilgers cites the Nebraska Consumer Protection Act, the Uniform Deceptive Trade2:37Practices Act, and the Age-Appropriate Online Design Code Act that brings both2:41consumer representations and online design into the state's legal challenge.2:46Nebraska has demanded a jury trial in Buffalo County District Court.2:50That request sets out how the state wants its case heard.2:53A trial date would come through the court's scheduling process.2:56Arizona Attorney General Chris Mays alleges deceptive design and marketing under the3:00Arizona Consumer Fraud Act.3:02Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador alleges violations of the Idaho Consumer3:06Protection Act.3:08Each court will consider the claims brought under its own state's law.3:11OpenAI says it will keep consulting experts to inform its work and build additional3:15safeguards.3:16It also says it's committed to working with states on pragmatic AI policies that3:20apply across the industry.3:21The company hasn't attached a timetable or measurable safety target to those3:25commitments.3:26The next consequential steps are OpenAI's response in court and the evidence the3:30states present.3:31The cases turn on the safety promises families received, whether those promises were3:34deceptive and whether the alleged conduct can be connected to particular harms.3:38The filings put those questions before eight separate courts.3:42Families' access to reimbursement or data deletion will depend on what the states3:45prove and what judges order.3:47No upcoming hearing or response deadline has been confirmed.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSSThe shortThe short ↗