Texas filed an OpenAI lawsuit against OpenAI and chief executive Sam Altman on 23 October, accusing the tech company of misleading residents and failing to protect young users. Attorney General Ken Paxton submitted the 67-page document in Collin County District Court, according to The Next Web.
Key takeaways
- Texas filed a 67-page petition in Collin County District Court on 23 October.
- The state accuses OpenAI of deceptive practices and neglecting youth safety.
- Attorney General Ken Paxton named Sam Altman personally in the legal filing.
- Texas wants a ban on offering ChatGPT to minors without age verification and parental consent.
Why did Texas file an OpenAI lawsuit against OpenAI?
The state built its case around the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the SCOPE Act, which mandates digital platforms to provide verified parents control over minor accounts. The free tier of ChatGPT lacks age checks entirely, while the paid version asks for age without verifying it. Also, OpenAI introduced optional parental controls in September 2025 that only notify parents in restricted scenarios.
Common Sense Media discovered that ChatGPT for Teens, released in August, might give families a false sense of security regarding alerts. The legal filing highlights tragic cases, including 16-year-old Adam Raine, who died by suicide in April 2025 following months of interacting with the chatbot. His parents previously filed a separate case in California in August 2025.
What Texas demands from the company
The state requests that the court prohibit OpenAI from providing the chatbot to minors throughout Texas. It demands strict age verification protocols and parental consent for children. Also, the petition seeks to block any new AI model releases in the state until an independent, court-approved evaluator reviews them. Prosecutors also request civil penalties reaching up to $10,000 for each violation alongside asset disgorgement.
What happens next?
Private firms Keller Postman and the Buzbee Law Firm join the attorney general's office in representing the state. This legal action follows similar complaints from eight other US states earlier in the month regarding youth harms. OpenAI previously highlighted its parental controls as safeguards for younger participants. Meanwhile, Paxton runs as the Republican nominee for the US Senate in Texas, following campaign finance reports showing Elon Musk spent nearly $200 million on ads backing the campaign.
Frequently asked questions
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed the 67-page petition in Collin County District Court on 23 October.
The state named OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman personally in the filing, citing his direct role and previous statements.
The claims rely upon the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the SCOPE Act, which requires digital services to give verified parents control over minor accounts.
Texas asks for civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, the disgorgement of assets, and a court order blocking ChatGPT availability to minors without proper verification.
Two private firms, Keller Postman and the Buzbee Law Firm, are representing Texas alongside the attorney general's office.
Based on reporting by The Next Web. Read the original article
