Florida launches investigation into OpenAI | The Verge

PolicyAINewsFlorida launches investigation into OpenAIAttorney General James Uthmeier says ChatGPT has been ‘linked to criminal behavior.’Attorney General James Uthmeier says ChatGPT has been ‘linked to criminal behavior.’by Emma RothApr 9, 2026, 10:17 PM UTCLinkShareGiftImage: The VergeEmma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is launching an investigation into OpenAI over public safety and national security risks, as reported earlier by Reuters. In a statement on Thursday, Uthmeier says there are concerns that OpenAI’s data and technology are “falling into the hands of America’s enemies, such as the Chinese Communist Party.”Uthmeier also says that OpenAI’s ChatGPT has been “linked to criminal behavior” related to child sexual abuse material and the “encouragement” of self-harm. He adds that ChatGPT may have been used to “assist” the person suspected of carrying out a shooting at Florida State University in April 2025. This week, the family of a man killed during the FSU shooting filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the suspect of being in “constant communication with ChatGPT.OpenAI is expected to launch an initial public offering (IPO) this year and is facing scrutiny from regulators over how it handles child safety. Last October, the Federal Trade Commission ordered OpenAI and other tech giants to hand over inform...