Florida opens OpenAI probe
Florida’s attorney‑general has opened an investigation into OpenAI and ChatGPT over possible responsibility for crimes in which the tool was used, according to a Spanish‑language report. Details are thin in the initial coverage and the probe was reported on April 10th (laopinion.com).
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody launched an investigation into OpenAI and its ChatGPT tool over potential liability for crimes committed using the AI. (laopinion.com) The probe, announced April 10, 2026, examines whether OpenAI bears responsibility when users leverage ChatGPT to facilitate illegal acts. Details on specific crimes remain undisclosed in initial reports. (laopinion.com) ChatGPT is a large language model developed by OpenAI that generates human-like text responses based on user prompts, trained on vast internet data up to 2023. It powers conversational AI but includes safeguards against harmful outputs. (openai.com) Florida's action follows reports of ChatGPT aiding crimes like phishing scams and fraud schemes, where users prompted the tool for scripts or instructions. No prior state-level probes against OpenAI match this scope. (laopinion.com) Moody's office has pursued tech accountability before, including suits against TikTok for youth addiction and Meta for privacy violations. This marks the first known U.S. state probe targeting AI developer liability for user crimes. (myfloridalegal.com) OpenAI's terms state users are responsible for outputs and compliance with laws, with the company not liable for misuse. The firm has blocked millions of harmful prompts weekly via safety filters. (openai.com) Similar concerns prompted Italy's 2023 ChatGPT ban over data privacy, later lifted after fixes, and EU AI Act rules holding high-risk AI providers accountable. U.S. federal AI regulation lags, leaving states to act. (reuters.com) Legal experts predict challenges: Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act shields platforms from user content liability, but AI's proactive generation may test those limits. OpenAI has not commented publicly on the Florida probe. (law.cornell.edu) The investigation could set precedents for holding AI firms accountable like gun or car manufacturers in misuse cases. OpenAI faces pressure to enhance safeguards amid rising AI-crime reports. (laopinion.com)
