Iowa, Kansas and six other US states have sued OpenAI, alleging that ChatGPT encouraged children to harm themselves or others, it was reported on Wednesday, October 14.
According to Reuters, the lawsuits were filed in state courts in various parts of the country. Besides Iowa and Kansas, they were filed by Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho and Montana. According to Reuters, the states are seeking a court order requiring changes to how ChatGPT operates with regard to children, as well as the return of profits the company earned from young users.
What the States Allege
According to Fox News, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced on Wednesday that the chatbot allegedly promoted self-harm and suicide, provided dangerous medical advice and fostered unhealthy emotional attachment among vulnerable users. The Iowa lawsuit also accuses OpenAI of violating the state’s consumer fraud law by misrepresenting the safety safeguards of its product. In this way, the states argue that parents were misled about the tool’s safety.
These are the allegations of the plaintiffs; no court has ruled on any of them. The full text of the lawsuits was not yet available when this article was prepared, and the details of the arguments of the remaining seven states may differ.
Florida Was First
Reuters recalls that OpenAI was first sued in June by the Florida Attorney General, based on similar allegations. According to earlier reports, at the end of September Florida also requested a court order blocking the development of new models without external oversight. Wednesday’s lawsuits therefore extend the dispute to additional states.
The case fits into growing legal pressure on companies developing chatbots. OpenAI is simultaneously facing other proceedings, including, according to Seeking Alpha, a dispute with Apple over trade secrets.
OpenAI's Response
As of publication, the company had not issued a response to the lawsuits, and the available news agency reports did not quote any comment from OpenAI.
What It Means
The lawsuits concern the operation of ChatGPT in the US and are being heard in state courts, so they have no direct legal effect in Poland. However, if courts order changes to safeguards for minors, they could apply to the service globally. The dispute also shows the questions regulators in Europe will face when enforcing EU rules on AI and the protection of minors. Meanwhile, parents of children who use chatbots can make use of the parental control settings available in the apps.
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