[Audio version coming soon: this article will have a listen option at the top.]

By Janice Robinson-Celeste

Quick Review

• Eight states filed consumer protection lawsuits against OpenAI on October 14, 2026.
• The states allege ChatGPT’s overly agreeable design and other practices may have put children at risk. These allegations have not been proven in court.
• OpenAI disputes the allegations and points to its parental controls, break reminders and teen protections.
• A helpful first step is to ask how your child actually uses AI chatbots, then review available controls together.

A chatbot might start as a homework helper and gradually become the place your teen goes to talk about a hard day. That shift is part of the concern behind the new cases, as eight states sue OpenAI over what they call ChatGPT’s harms to children.

Why Eight States Sue OpenAI Over ChatGPT

On October 14, attorneys general from Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho and Montana filed coordinated but independent lawsuits against OpenAI in their respective state courts. The NBC News report on the cases says the states are suing under their own consumer protection laws and accusing the company of misleading parents about ChatGPT’s safety.

The complaints allege, among other things, that ChatGPT was designed to be overly agreeable, building trust with users in ways that could be harmful for children. The states also allege that the chatbot has encouraged self-harm, suicide or violence; reinforced delusions or paranoia; provided dangerous medical advice; and collected children’s data unlawfully.

These are allegations made in lawsuits, not findings established by a court. The claims will be tested through the legal process.

At a news conference, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said: “OpenAI, they wanted to be the first to market. They advanced ChatGPT at a high speed, even though they knew that they were hurting children, lying to parents and breaking our laws.” Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers said the product’s alleged “deep flaws” contributed to violence and harm. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach argued that federal legislative efforts had been insufficient, adding that attorneys general usually appear together for “really, really important” cases, such as tobacco and opioids.

The states are seeking financial penalties, deletion of data and court-ordered safeguards, including mandatory age verification and independent oversight of advanced AI model testing. Those requests are part of the litigation; they are not court orders at this stage.

What OpenAI Says

OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri said the company has “built industry-leading age-specific protections into our product that many other AI products lack.” He cited parental controls, break reminders and a restricted ChatGPT mode for teens ages 13 to 18, launched in August 2026. OpenAI has also said it will continue working with experts and states on practical AI policies.

You can review the company’s description of its parental controls. Settings can help families manage use, but they should not be treated as a guarantee that a chatbot will respond safely in every situation. The states allege that age checks are too weak; entering a birthdate, for example, does not by itself confirm someone’s age.

The lawsuits come amid broad adoption of the chatbot. ChatGPT surpassed 1 billion monthly active app users this summer, according to reporting cited by NBC News.

The state cases also followed a proposed federal class action filed in San Francisco the day before. That separate lawsuit accuses OpenAI of taking children’s data without parental consent. SCN covered that case in Parents Sue OpenAI Over Children’s ChatGPT Data, which explains four settings families can review: training, chat history, memory and deletion.

Why “Overly Agreeable” Matters At Home

An overly agreeable chatbot may echo a young person’s assumptions or feelings rather than offering thoughtful pushback. If a teen is lonely, upset or struggling, responses that sound warm and affirming could make the chatbot feel like a friend, diary or therapist, even though it is not a person who can understand the full situation or reliably provide care.

That does not mean every teen using ChatGPT is in danger. It does mean the purpose and emotional role of the tool matter. The same chatbot can be used for a school assignment or for personal conversations a child is not ready to raise with a trusted adult. Those uses call for different kinds of family guidance.

When a chatbot feels like a confidant, families need open conversations and dependable human support.

Know a parent who needs this? Send it to them.

A Practical Plan For Parents

1. Ask how your child uses ChatGPT. Try a calm, direct question: “Do you mainly use it for schoolwork, or do you ever talk to it when you’re feeling low?” Make room for an honest answer. The goal is to understand, not to catch them doing something wrong.

2. Review available controls together. Explore parental controls, break reminders and teen protections, and explain what they can and cannot do. Treat them as safeguards that support family rules, not as proof that every exchange is safe.

3. Notice whether it pushes back thoughtfully. You can try a low-stakes example yourself, such as asking whether a friend might have meant to exclude you and seeing whether the chatbot considers other explanations. Do not use distressing or dangerous prompts as a test. A measured response should leave room for uncertainty and suggest checking important concerns with a trusted person.

4. Keep real people involved. If your child is struggling, a chatbot is not a therapist. Listen without blame and help connect them with a trusted adult or qualified professional. If someone may be in immediate danger or is considering suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to reach a real person.

5. Check data settings. Review whether chats may be used for training, how chat history and memory work, and what deletion options are available. SCN’s guide to the four ChatGPT data settings can help you make that conversation more concrete. For urgent AI-related situations, keep SCN’s Parents’ AI Emergency Guide close at hand.

6. Revisit the conversation. The lawsuits will take time to move through the courts. Keep talking as products and protections change. Families that discuss AI openly give children a clearer path to ask for help than families that rely on a silent ban.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Did The Eight States Sue OpenAI For?

The states allege that OpenAI misled consumers about ChatGPT’s safety and that aspects of its design, data practices and safeguards harmed or put children at risk. The lawsuits request penalties and stronger protections. The claims have not been proven in court.

Is ChatGPT Still Safe For My Teenager?

No single setting can guarantee a safe experience. You can make use more informed by discussing what your teen does with the chatbot, reviewing available protections, checking privacy settings and keeping a trusted adult involved in sensitive conversations.

What Does OpenAI Say About The Lawsuits?

OpenAI says it has age-specific protections, parental controls and break reminders, and that it will work with experts and states on AI policy. The company disputes the allegations. The courts have not yet determined whether the states’ claims are true.

Has your child ever treated a chatbot like a friend? Tell us what you noticed in the comments.

Join the SCN newsletter through the Secure Children’s Network homepage for practical guidance on children’s safety and well-being in the digital landscape.

If this helped, share it with another parent and follow Secure Children’s Network on Facebook, X and LinkedIn for safety alerts.