Florida Sues OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman Over Alleged Safety Failures

Florida has become the first U.S. state to sue OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, alleging the company prioritized speed and profit over user safety. The civil complaint claims ChatGPT facilitates harm, collects data from minors without oversight, and causes behavioral addiction. The state seeks civil penalties and court orders to restrict data collection and improve risk warnings.

Facts First

Florida is the first U.S. state to sue OpenAI over safety concerns.

The lawsuit alleges OpenAI prioritized speed and profit over user safety, deploying a product that facilitates harm.

The complaint accuses ChatGPT of collecting data from minors without meaningful parental oversight and causing behavioral addiction.

The state is seeking civil penalties and court orders to restrict data collection and stop misrepresenting ChatGPT's risks.

The lawsuit is separate from a criminal investigation into OpenAI opened by the Florida Attorney General in April.

What Happened

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed an 83-page civil lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman on Monday, June 1, 2026. The lawsuit, filed in Florida's 10th judicial circuit court, alleges OpenAI and Altman prioritized speed to market and commercial gain over user safety. The complaint claims ChatGPT facilitates and encourages harm, including self-harm and violence, while providing false assurances of safety. It also alleges the product collects data from minors without meaningful parental oversight, causes behavioral addiction and cognitive harm, and that OpenAI has actively downplayed dangerous errors. The state is accusing OpenAI of multiple counts of deceptive and unfair trade practices, negligence, violating product liability laws, fraudulent misrepresentation, and causing a public nuisance.

Why this Matters to You

If you or your family use AI chatbots, this lawsuit highlights significant, unaddressed safety concerns that could affect user well-being. The state's allegations, if proven, suggest the product you or your children might use could pose risks of addiction and facilitate harmful behaviors without adequate safeguards. The legal action may lead to changes in how these tools are designed and marketed, potentially resulting in stricter data privacy for minors and clearer warnings about risks. For Florida residents specifically, the state is acting on your behalf to seek accountability and safer products.

What's Next

The lawsuit seeks civil penalties and court orders requiring OpenAI to restrict data collection from minors and to stop misrepresenting or failing to warn of ChatGPT's risks. OpenAI has not yet responded to the lawsuit, but the company has previously stated its goal is to design products that are 'safe for everyone' and that it has safeguards in place for sensitive conversations. The case will proceed through Florida's judicial system, and its outcome could set a precedent for how states regulate AI safety and corporate accountability. This civil lawsuit is separate from a criminal investigation into OpenAI opened by the Attorney General in April, which may proceed independently.

Perspectives

Florida State Officials allege that OpenAI and its CEO engaged in a 'web of deceit' by ignoring safety warnings to prioritize market value and profit over the well-being of users. They argue that the company's pursuit of the AI arms race has caused ongoing harm to Floridians, particularly by exposing minors to addictive tools that lack parental oversight.