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Eight US states take ChatGPT child-safety claims to court

Eight US states have filed separate lawsuits accusing OpenAI of misleading families about ChatGPT’s safety and exposing children to harm. The complaints invoke state consumer-protection powers and seek remedies that vary by state. OpenAI points to parental controls, age-appropriate protections and break reminders as part of its continuing safety work.

Artificial Intelligence··Morning
A child-use tablet lies face down among eight separate civil-case packets.

States challenge ChatGPT’s safety assurances

Eight US states filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI on October 14, alleging that ChatGPT harms children and misleads parents. Each state is pursuing its case in its own courts.[1], [2]

Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho and Montana invoke state consumer-protection powers. Their attorneys general accuse OpenAI of presenting its chatbot as safe while failing to disclose known risks to young users adequately and placing profit ahead of safety warnings.[1]

Complaints seek penalties and deletion of personal data

The complaints address conversations involving self-harm, violence, delusional thinking and medical advice. Some also challenge access by children below the stated age limit and the collection of their personal information. The requested remedies differ: states seek civil penalties, an end to allegedly misleading practices or deletion of data they say was collected unlawfully. These remain allegations for the individual courts to assess.[1]

OpenAI points to parental controls and break reminders

OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri said the company has added age-appropriate safeguards, parental controls and reminders to take breaks. The company says it continues to work with experts on safety and supports practical, consistent rules. The proceedings bring those assurances before separate state courts, with the remedy sought in each case depending on its own complaint.[1]

References

  1. News sourceThe VergeEight US states sue OpenAI over ChatGPT child safety↩1↩2↩3↩4
  2. News sourceSiliconANGLEEight US states file separate OpenAI lawsuits over ChatGPT safety↩
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