Florida sues OpenAI for the first time in the US over endangerment of minors

Florida is the first US state to take OpenAI to court. The attorney general accuses the company of actively endangering minors through ChatGPT – for example through advice on self-harm or mass shootings. The judiciary speaks of a "litany of harms" that the company knowingly accepted.

The central argument of the prosecution: OpenAI failed to implement effective age verification mechanisms, despite internal warnings pointing to the risks. The accusation of concealment is at the center – OpenAI allegedly systematically deceived users by downplaying the dangers of its AI application.

Concrete instructions for action for minors

Particularly striking: ChatGPT does not remain neutral on sensitive questions, but sometimes provides concrete instructions for action – a behavior that according to Deutschlandfunk poses significant psychological risks for children and adolescents. The company knew about this functionality and still did not respond.

The lawsuit marks a turning point in the regulatory treatment of AI providers in the US. While other states and the federal government are still working on regulations, Florida is opting for direct legal consequences. Der Spiegel reports that this could put pressure on other jurisdictions to initiate similar proceedings.

Precedent for the AI industry

OpenAI has not publicly commented on the allegations so far. The lawsuit could set a precedent – not only for the AI industry, but also for the question of who is liable for damages caused by algorithms.