Texas sues OpenAI, seeking a ChatGPT ban for minors and reviews of new models
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued OpenAI and chief executive Sam Altman, alleging ChatGPT harmed users and failed to protect children. The lawsuit cites alleged advice to a teenager who later died and asks a Collin County court to bar minors from ChatGPT and require outside evaluators to approve new models before release, according to the Texas Tribune as cited by The Jolt Journal.
Bottom line — The court will decide whether Texas can impose restrictions reaching beyond OpenAI’s existing parental controls.
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The Epoch Times reports that the complaint alleges ChatGPT told a Texas teenager it was safe to mix kratom and Xanax; the teenager later died.
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The lawsuit also alleges ChatGPT gave a suspected Florida State University shooter instructions about operating a Glock handgun. OpenAI’s spokesperson said the chatbot was not responsible and that the company shared information about an account believed to be linked to the suspect with law enforcement.
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The Epoch Times says Paxton’s complaint alleges OpenAI violated Texas consumer-protection law and the SCOPE Act, which concerns children’s online privacy and safety.
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OpenAI’s website says parents can link accounts to manage some settings and receive safety notifications, but cannot view a child’s conversations or chat history.
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The Jolt Journal, citing the Texas Tribune, reports that the suit also seeks court-appointed third-party evaluation of new models before release.
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OpenAI had not responded to the Tribune’s request for comment, The Jolt Journal reported.