ASAPOpenAI Faces Joint Probe by 42 State Attorneys General, with Safety in the Crosshairs Ahead of IPO
A coalition of attorneys general from 42 U.S. states opened a joint investigation into OpenAI in June 2026. Led by New York's attorney general, the coalition issued a subpoena demanding a broad set of internal records covering advertising, user data, and the protection of minors. The probe lands as OpenAI pushes ahead with its initial public offering (IPO), introducing a new legal variable into the listing process.
What happened
A coalition of 42 U.S. state attorneys general has launched a joint investigation into OpenAI. According to multiple Korean and international reports, New York's attorney general led the effort to issue a subpoena on June 13–14, 2026, demanding that OpenAI hand over a wide range of internal records. Florida's attorney general is reported to have filed a separate lawsuit. OpenAI said it "takes the attorneys general's concerns seriously and will cooperate constructively with the investigation."
What records did the attorneys general demand?
The coalition asked for records spanning OpenAI's entire business and its impact on users. The reported requests cover: (1) advertising and the drive to boost user engagement and retention; (2) the handling of consumer and health data; (3) services aimed at minors and older adults; (4) model bias and sycophancy; (5) the architecture of the deep learning models; and (6) the company's internal policies. In other words, this is not a probe into a single incident but a sweeping investigation into how the chatbot is designed, operated, and how it protects users.
Why is the investigation happening now?
The probe follows a steady accumulation of disputes over chatbot safety. There have been allegations that the system failed to do enough to dissuade users contemplating suicide, signs that it assisted in planning crimes, and recurring problems with the handling of sensitive health information. Florida is reported to have filed its separate lawsuit on grounds that include a shooting suspect who had consulted ChatGPT while preparing the crime. Earlier, in December 2024, Pennsylvania led an effort to send warning letters to major AI companies—including OpenAI, Google, Meta, Anthropic, and xAI—arguing that developers could also be held liable if their chatbots are misused for crimes, and urging them to put safeguards in place. The issue at hand is not a single accident but the broader question of protecting young people and vulnerable groups and ensuring the safety of the models' responses.
What does this mean for OpenAI?
The timing carries weight because the investigation coincides with OpenAI's listing schedule. OpenAI confidentially submitted its IPO registration filing on June 8, 2026, and the regulatory risk of 42 states examining it simultaneously could become a fresh legal variable for investor sentiment and the listing process. OpenAI has signaled its willingness to cooperate, saying it directs users to real-world professional mental health support. But with core areas such as advertising, data, and the protection of minors now under scrutiny, a policy and product response appears unavoidable.
Sources: ZDNet Korea · Newsis · Digital Today · The Electronic Times