Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against OpenAI Over Data Collection of Minors

A class action lawsuit has been filed against OpenAI, alleging the unauthorized collection and utilization of personal data from millions of minors. The plaintiffs contend that the company fails to verify parental consent for users under the age of 18, despite existing terms of service requirements. The complaint asserts that the platform actively encourages the disclosure of sensitive information, including health data, physical appearance, and emotional states, to train large language models.

Legal filings indicate that the platform continued interactions with a self-identified 12-year-old user, providing feedback on personal appearance and mimicking user communication styles. The plaintiffs argue that this data is systematically harvested to build individual profiles for future commercial and advertising purposes.

The lawsuit seeks compensation in the form of equity or cash, calculated based on the volume of data tokens contributed by minor users. This litigation adds to a growing series of legal challenges against the firm regarding safety protocols, data privacy, and the handling of content involving mental health and self-harm.