Florida Sues OpenAI and Sam Altman Over Alleged ChatGPT Harms to Minors

June 2, 2026

Mintesinot Nigussie

Florida has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its chief executive Sam Altman, accusing the company of misrepresenting the safety of ChatGPT and alleging that the platform has exposed children to harmful content, including material linked to violence and self-harm.

The case, brought on Monday by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier in state court, marks the first legal action by a US state targeting the artificial intelligence company over safety concerns.

The complaint seeks damages potentially running into billions of dollars and calls for court-ordered changes to how the system interacts with minors.

At the centre of the lawsuit are claims that ChatGPT provided information to individuals connected to school shootings and offered guidance related to self-harm, while also contributing to what the state describes as addictive use among younger users.

State officials cited incidents in Florida and other states, including a shooting at a Tallahassee university last year, arguing that outputs from the system played a role in enabling violent behaviour.

The filing sets up a high-stakes legal confrontation over the responsibilities of AI developers, particularly in protecting younger users.