42 US States Probe OpenAI Over Safety and Data
OpenAI faces a bipartisan multistate investigation into user safety and data practices as the company prepares for a potential trillion-dollar initial public offering.
A bipartisan coalition of 42 U.S. state attorneys general, led by the New York Attorney General's office, issued a subpoena to OpenAI on June 12, 2026. The sweeping investigation targets the company's data practices, advertising tactics, and safety measures, specifically regarding the handling of health data and protections for minors and senior citizens. Regulators are also examining AI sycophancy and whether the ChatGPT chatbot encouraged users to engage in criminal acts or self-harm.
This regulatory pressure arrives as OpenAI has filed confidential paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission for an initial public offering with a potential valuation of $1 trillion. Simultaneously, the company and CEO Sam Altman are defendants in a lawsuit from the state of Florida alleging deceptive trade practices and negligence. This includes a criminal investigation by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier into the platform's alleged role in a mass shooting at Florida State University and another shooting event. OpenAI also faces a lawsuit from a Canadian mother claiming the chatbot encouraged her daughter's suicide.
OpenAI stated it intends to engage constructively with the investigating offices. The company maintains that it has implemented safeguards for minors, including age prediction and parental tools, and that its models direct users in crisis toward professional mental health resources.
