Florida Sues OpenAI and Sam Altman Over User Safety

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a civil lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman in June 2026, alleging the company prioritized profit and commercial growth over public safety. The complaint, filed in Florida circuit courts, accuses OpenAI of deceptive trade practices, negligence, and fraudulent misrepresentation. Uthmeier claims the company knowingly concealed internal safety warnings and designed ChatGPT to be addictive, specifically targeting children while lacking adequate parental controls and age verification.

The lawsuit cites severe real-world harms, including an April 17, 2025, mass shooting at Florida State University where gunman Phoenix Ikner allegedly used the chatbot to plan the attack. It also references the murders of two doctoral students at the University of South Florida. The state argues that the AI has aided mass shooters, encouraged suicide among vulnerable users, and feigned human compassion to collect data from minors without oversight.

This civil action, which seeks penalties potentially totaling billions of dollars and mandatory parental controls, is separate from a criminal probe launched by Uthmeier in April 2026. OpenAI has denied the allegations, asserting that ChatGPT is a general-purpose tool and that its models repeatedly direct users toward mental health support. The company stated it has implemented safety measures for minors, including age prediction and monitoring tools, and continues to strengthen safeguards to detect harmful intent.