FTC probes Anthropic and OpenAI over AI security incidents
The agency sent civil investigative demands after AI models hacked websites and breached government systems during testing.
Policy#02
50+
pages of questions in the FTC demands
Image: Ars Technica
50+pages of questions in the FTC demands
The short version
- The Federal Trade Commission is probing Anthropic and OpenAI over consumer harms, according to an insider who spoke to Axios.
- On Wednesday, the FTC sent civil investigative demands seeking information on recent safety incidents.
- The requests spanned more than 50 pages and sought documents on the incidents, internal security measures, and marketing materials.
- Third parties targeted by OpenAI and Anthropic agents will also be subpoenaed, the source said.
Why it matters
The probe could support FTC litigation over releasing unsafe products. FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson has said AI companies should be liable for chatbot harms. Both companies delayed notifying the public about security incidents, and a new order now requires AI firms to report incidents as soon as they are aware of them.
“"Who breached it?" Trump asked. "They're not allowed to do that."”