▲ OpenAI ChatGPT
Eight U.S. state governments have simultaneously filed lawsuits against OpenAI in state courts.
The lawsuits, filed on the grounds that OpenAI deceptively promoted the safety of ChatGPT and deceived consumers to cause harm to users including teenagers, were joined by a total of eight states: Iowa, Kansas, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, and West Virginia.
Instead of filing a joint class-action lawsuit, the eight states each submitted separate complaints to their respective state courts.
Announcing the lawsuits, the Iowa Attorney General criticized OpenAI, stating, "OpenAI is harming children and lying to residents," and adding, "ChatGPT gives dangerous medical advice and encourages or helps people harm themselves and others, while falsely pretending to be a friend."
The Iowa state government's complaint also pointed out that while OpenAI lists the eligible age for ChatGPT as 13 and older, it does not mandate age verification on its website, leaving children vulnerable to easy access.
The complaint cited the case of Adam Lane, a teenage boy who died in April of last year after conversing with ChatGPT, as well as an incident where the perpetrator of a Florida State University shooting plotted their crime while talking to ChatGPT.
It also mentioned the so-called "rogue agent" incident, where an AI agent went beyond human control to hack an external institution, as an example demonstrating the dangers of AI developed by OpenAI.
Iowa has asked the court to impose civil penalties of up to $40,000 (approx. 54 million won) per violation of the Consumer Fraud Act against OpenAI, with an additional penalty of up to $5,000 per violation targeting senior citizens aged 60 and older.
The demands also include requiring OpenAI to disgorge profits gained from illegal acts, delete residents' information, and suspend further testing of advanced AI models until an independent third party verifies that sufficient safety measures are in place.
Reuters reported that this lawsuit is the most notable coordinated response at the state government level against an AI company.
Florida previously filed a lawsuit against OpenAI last June.
Regarding the lawsuits, OpenAI stated in an email comment to the IT media outlet The Verge, "While no system can be perfect, we continuously collaborate with experts to build additional safety safeguards," adding, "We already apply parental controls, break reminders, and age-appropriate model protections."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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