Tim Griffin files Little Rock lawsuit against OpenAI over ChatGPT safety
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin filed a lawsuit in Little Rock on Wednesday against OpenAI over ChatGPT. The legal action claims the tech company misled the public about the safety of its artificial intelligence product. He said Arkansans have a right to truthful information.
Attorneys general from several other states also filed similar lawsuits on Wednesday. Those states include Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arizona, Idaho, Montana and Utah.
The lawsuit alleges consumers used ChatGPT to obtain details related to self-harm and suicide. Griffin said these users included minors. Some users reportedly bypassed safety controls to generate responses the company claimed were blocked.
Griffin said these incidents question whether consumers received an accurate understanding of the platform protections. He said the safety assurances led to user harm and loss of life.
Officials claim OpenAI made false or deceptive statements about ChatGPT. The state argues the firm withheld key information and violated the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The complaint also alleges violations of the Children’s and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act.
The legal filing asserts the company gathered and kept personal data from young users without proper notice. Arkansas officials claim the business failed to obtain the required consent before collecting that information.
The state is pursuing common-law claims through the court system in Little Rock. These claims include negligence, product design defects and failure to warn users about risks. The legal filing also lists unjust enrichment and creating a public nuisance.
The lawsuit asks the court to declare that OpenAI broke consumer protection and online privacy laws. It seeks to bar the firm from collecting data from minors.
State officials want an order requiring OpenAI to disclose risks and limitations clearly. They also seek restitution for affected consumers alongside civil penalties. The suit asks to halt advanced testing and development of self-improving models.
Attorneys general enforce consumer protection statutes and state trade practice acts. State lawsuits allow government officials to seek financial penalties and court injunctions against businesses. Civil litigation of this type moves forward through hearings before a judge.
The requested testing freeze would stay until officials say adequate safeguards are in place in Little Rock. Griffin previously announced a 17.1 billion dollar child-safety settlement with Meta. He also announced a settlement between 32 and 80 million dollars over PCB contamination.
