OpenAI faces lawsuits over ChatGPT child safety and data use

Summary

Eight states accuse OpenAI of misleading parents about ChatGPT’s safety, while a separate lawsuit alleges it used children’s personal information without valid parental consent. OpenAI disputes the claims; both cases remain allegations.

Key points

• Eight states filed separate lawsuits alleging ChatGPT’s design and responses can endanger vulnerable users, including children, and that OpenAI violated consumer protection laws.
• A Hawaii mother’s proposed class action alleges OpenAI collected and used her children’s sensitive information without valid parental consent, including to train AI models and build profiles.
• The complaint alleges children can create accounts without verified parental permission and that a child under 13 continued using ChatGPT after stating her age.
• OpenAI disputes the allegations and says it has age-specific protections and safeguards for younger users.
• A third-party review reported failures in ChatGPT for Teens’ parental alerts during conversations involving suicide, self-harm, or eating disorders; OpenAI disputes the findings and says alerts may not identify every concern.
• The article advises families to avoid sharing sensitive personal information with chatbots, discuss children’s AI use, and seek human help promptly for self-harm concerns.

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