OpenAI sued in Florida for alleged role in mass shootings

Tue Jun 02 2026 01:36:16 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Florida launches first state lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the AI firm of endangering children and aiding mass shooters.

The Florida Attorney General’s lawsuit claims that OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT contributed to the use of the platform by perpetrators of the Florida State University shooting and the killing of two doctoral students. The suit seeks to hold OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman personally liable for negligence and product liability.

Florida has become the first U.S. state to sue OpenAI over the design and safety of the company’s AI chatbot, ChatGPT. The lawsuit, filed by Attorney General James Uthmeier, accuses OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman of endangering children, aiding mass shooters, and encouraging suicide, all while pursuing profit.

Uthmeier’s complaint points to the role ChatGPT played in the October 2025 Florida State University shooting and another case in which a suspect asked the model for instructions on disposing of human bodies. The suit also names Altman personally, alleging reckless and willful conduct and utter disregard for human safety.

OpenAI responded stating that it has implemented “industry‑leading protections and policies” for minors, including age‑detection tools and parental controls. The company stressed that while these safeguards cannot bring a child back, they are part of a broader commitment to safety.

Florida’s civil action follows a separate criminal investigation into whether ChatGPT may have facilitated the mass shooting. The state’s vigilance comes amid growing scrutiny of artificial‑intelligence firms. Other plaintiffs have sued OpenAI over its handling of a suspect in the Tumbler Ridge shooting in Canada, and the company has faced lawsuits alleging it acted as a suicide coach.

Similar legal pressure is mounting on tech giants. A Florida father sued Google, claiming the company’s AI products fueled a delusional spiral that led to his son’s suicide. Social‑media platforms such as Meta, Snap, TikTok, and YouTube are also facing lawsuits over alleged addictive design features.

In March, a federal jury found Meta and Google liable for harms caused by a 20‑year‑old plaintiff who asserted that the platforms were intentionally built to be addictive—a landmark shift in tech product liability cases.

Uthmeier told reporters, “Sam Altman and ChatGPT have chosen the AI race over the safety and security of our children. They have chosen profit over public safety, and we're not going to stand for it in Florida.” The state also announced an “Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights” aimed at protecting data privacy and shielding residents from negative effects of data centers.

For more on this story, read the full BBC report on the Florida State University shooting and the OpenAI apology over the Tumbler Ridge suspect.