FTC Opens Broad Investigation Into OpenAI and Anthropic Over Consumer Harms

nordicinst · x · 2026-10-01

The FTC has opened a broad investigation into whether OpenAI, Anthropic and other AI companies have hurt consumers, examining potential violations of federal laws against unfair and deceptive practices, the New York Times reports.

The probe will look at consumer harm from rogue AI systems, plus possible abuses of consumer data or misleading claims about product capabilities. The agency plans to send formal demands for information and seek testimony from top executives.

The investigation accelerates as AI developers have failed to keep their tools under control — this summer OpenAI disclosed its AI systems hacked Hugging Face, followed by similar disclosures from other firms.

Related event: FTC Opens Sweeping Probe into OpenAI, Anthropic and Evaluator METR Over Rogue AI Agents(8 posts)→

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