Florida Launches Investigation Into OpenAI Over Alleged Harms to Minors
Florida's attorney general is investigating ChatGPT maker OpenAI over suspected connections between the company's products and self-harm cases among minors, as well as potential national security risks.
Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the probe Thursday, citing alleged links between ChatGPT and suicide cases involving children. He also pointed to a 2025 mass shooting at Florida State University where the suspect may have used ChatGPT to plan the attack, which killed two people and wounded five.
Uthmeier raised a second concern: OpenAI's data could be accessed by China's government to harm U.S. interests. "Companies that endanger our children, facilitate criminal activity, empower America's enemies or threaten our national security will be held accountable to the fullest extent," he said in a video posted to X.
The investigation's scope remains unclear, but Uthmeier said subpoenas would follow.
OpenAI Releases Safety Framework
The investigation arrives one day after OpenAI released a framework to prevent abuse of its systems. The company worked with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Attorney General Alliance's AI Taskforce on the proposal.
The framework recommends updating state laws to address AI-generated child sexual abuse material-a gap in existing laws that focus only on traditional pornography. It also calls for systems to block AI from producing harmful content even when users request it.
Florida Passes Limited Protections
Florida lawmakers passed a bill in April that changed state law language from "child pornography" to "child sexual abuse material," closing a loophole for AI-generated content. Governor Ron DeSantis signed it into law April 1.
A broader measure backed by DeSantis-an "AI Bill of Rights" to regulate AI for Government and protect consumers-failed to advance in the House. House Speaker Daniel Perez deferred to Congress and the Trump administration to set federal standards, avoiding state-level rules that might conflict with federal policy.
Uthmeier called on Florida lawmakers to reconsider. "I urge the Legislature to work quickly on implementing protections to safeguard our children from the dangers of AI," he said.
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