# Texas sues OpenAI and Sam Altman, seeking to bar minors from ChatGPT in the state

Technology · 23 October 2026 · Texas, United States
URL: https://connectthedots.news/event/2026-10-23-texas-sues-openai-and-sam-altman-seeking-to-bar-minors-from-chatgpt

> Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, alleging ChatGPT was marketed as safe while harming Texans; OpenAI says AI rules should cover the whole industry.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued OpenAI and its chief executive, Sam Altman, on Friday 23 October in Collin County district court, alleging the company deceived and harmed Texans. Politico reported the suit alleges OpenAI misled consumers about the safety of ChatGPT and failed to protect users from harm. The claims are allegations and have not been tested in court. [1][2]

The suit invokes the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act. In a press release, Paxton's office alleged that ChatGPT aided mass shooters, encouraged vulnerable people towards suicide and left minors addicted to a tool that collects their data without parental oversight. Courthouse News, as cited by Hoodline, reported the 67-page filing cites at least eight cases in which people who went on to commit violent acts had consulted ChatGPT. [1][3][4]

The state asks for an injunction that would block minors from ChatGPT and require a court-appointed independent evaluator to approve new OpenAI models before they reach Texas users. It also seeks civil penalties of $10,000 per violation of the consumer-protection law and the surrender of profits. [1][2][3]

An OpenAI spokesperson said the company has worked with experts to mitigate risks and build additional safeguards, adding: "Governments have an important role to play in setting robust safety standards for AI, and we're committed to working with Texas and other states on advancing pragmatic AI policies that apply to the entire AI industry, not just one company." [1][2]

Paxton is running for the US Senate. The Texas Tribune reported that Elon Musk, who started xAI after leaving OpenAI amid a conflict with Altman, is the largest single donor behind Paxton's campaign. Politico reported the Texas suit follows lawsuits filed the previous week by bipartisan attorneys general in eight states; Paxton's office has also sued or settled with Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and Roblox over safeguards for users, especially children. [1][2]

## Who was involved

- [Ken Paxton](https://connectthedots.news/person/ken-paxton): Filed the lawsuit against OpenAI and Altman [1][2]
- [Texas Attorney General](https://connectthedots.news/org/texas-attorney-general): Plaintiff on behalf of the state [1][4]
- [OpenAI](https://connectthedots.news/org/openai): Defendant; says AI safety rules should apply industry-wide [1][2]
- [Sam Altman](https://connectthedots.news/person/sam-altman): Named as a defendant [1][2]
- [Elon Musk](https://connectthedots.news/person/elon-musk): Largest single donor to Paxton's Senate campaign, per the Texas Tribune [1]

## How others covered it

Sides: Texas Attorney General vs OpenAI. "Favours" is our reading of each article (see /sources#method).

- The Texas Tribune, 23 October 2026: "Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues ChatGPT-maker OpenAI" [balanced] https://www.texastribune.org/2026/10/23/ken-paxton-chatgpt-openai-lawsuit-texas-attorney-general/
- Just The News, 23 October 2026: "Texas AG Ken Paxton sues OpenAI for lying to users, harming state residents" [favours Texas Attorney General] https://justthenews.com/nation/states/texas-ag-ken-paxton-sues-openai-lying-users-harming-state-residents
- The Gateway Pundit, 23 October 2026: "Texas AG Ken Paxton Sues OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman for Lying to Users and Harming Texans Including Children" [favours Texas Attorney General] https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/10/texas-ag-ken-paxton-sues-openai-ceo-sam/
- Bloomberg Law, 23 October 2026: "Texas Sues OpenAI, Altman Over User Deception, Child Safety" https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/openai-faces-texas-deceptive-claims-child-user-safety-lawsuit
- Hoodline, 24 October 2026: "Texas AG Sues OpenAI Over ChatGPT Safety Claims" [balanced] https://hoodline.com/2026/10/texas-ag-paxton-sues-openai-says-chatgpt-fueled-suicides-and-mass-shooters/
- Yahoo News, 23 October 2026: "Texas sues OpenAI, Sam Altman over product safety" [balanced] https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/texas-sues-openai-sam-altman-203919401.html

## Sources

1. The Texas Tribune, "Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues ChatGPT-maker OpenAI", 23 October 2026: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/10/23/ken-paxton-chatgpt-openai-lawsuit-texas-attorney-general/
2. Yahoo News, "Texas sues OpenAI, Sam Altman over product safety", 23 October 2026: https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/texas-sues-openai-sam-altman-203919401.html
3. Hoodline, "Texas AG Sues OpenAI Over ChatGPT Safety Claims", 24 October 2026: https://hoodline.com/2026/10/texas-ag-paxton-sues-openai-says-chatgpt-fueled-suicides-and-mass-shooters/
4. Bloomberg Law, "Texas Sues OpenAI, Altman Over User Deception, Child Safety", 23 October 2026: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/openai-faces-texas-deceptive-claims-child-user-safety-lawsuit