Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, accusing the company behind ChatGPT of misleading consumers about the safety of its artificial intelligence chatbot and failing to protect children from harmful content.
The 67-page lawsuit, filed in Collin County, alleges violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the state’s Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act.
Paxton argues that OpenAI has marketed ChatGPT as a safe, reliable tool while failing to adequately disclose the risks associated with its use.
The lawsuit points to reports of ChatGPT providing inaccurate medical and legal advice, encouraging dangerous behavior, and fostering emotional dependency among users, particularly minors.
It also alleges that OpenAI has prioritized profits and rapid technological advancement over consumer safety.
“With the rapid advancement of AI technology, OpenAI has the responsibility to protect users and warn them of the many dangers of its platform,” Paxton said.
“I will fight to protect Texans from the harms of AI and ensure that powerful technology companies are not above the law.”
A central component of the lawsuit involves alleged violations of Texas’ SCOPE Act, which took effect in September 2024.
The law requires digital service providers to implement safeguards for minors, limit the collection of their personal information, and provide parents with tools to supervise their children’s online activity.
Paxton alleges that ChatGPT lacks adequate age verification and parental oversight mechanisms, allowing children to interact with the chatbot and disclose sensitive personal information without sufficient protections.
The lawsuit also criticizes OpenAI’s use of conversational features that allegedly encourage users to prolong interactions and develop emotional attachments to the chatbot.
According to the filing, the company has designed ChatGPT to simulate human compassion while collecting personal information from users.
Texas is seeking monetary penalties and court orders requiring OpenAI to change its practices. The lawsuit also seeks to hold Altman personally liable for his alleged role in directing the company’s conduct.
The lawsuit comes as President Donald Trump has embraced the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, recently signing an executive order rebranding the technology as “Super Intelligence.”
Trump has championed the industry’s growth and pushed for American dominance in AI development.
Texas Scorecard has reached out to OpenAI for comment.
