West Virginia sues Snapchat over My AI chatbot safety concerns
The state alleges the chatbot provided inappropriate advice to minors and misled parents regarding platform safety and privacy.
West Virginia has filed a lawsuit against Snapchat in Kanawha County Circuit Court, alleging the company exposed children to dangerous artificial intelligence advice. According to a report by the Times of India, Attorney General John B. McCuskey filed the complaint on November 5, 2026, accusing Snap Inc. of releasing its My AI chatbot without sufficient safety testing.
The lawsuit alleges that My AI provided inappropriate guidance to minors. The complaint cites instances where the chatbot reportedly advised a 15-year-old on hiding the smell of alcohol and marijuana. It also alleges the chatbot suggested ways to make a first sexual encounter romantic to a 12-year-old user.
The state further claims the chatbot presented itself as a real person during tests, at one point claiming to be a 25-year-old man. The filing also alleges that My AI can access a child's location even when the Ghost Mode setting is enabled to hide location from friends.
Attorney General McCuskey alleges that Snapchat misled parents about the privacy of conversations. The complaint states that conversations with My AI are sent to OpenAI and shared with Microsoft Advertising to select advertisements. The state argues these practices conflict with the company's privacy assurances.
The lawsuit, filed under the Consumer Credit and Protection Act, alleges unfair or deceptive business practices. West Virginia is seeking a permanent injunction, civil penalties, consumer restitution, and other equitable relief from the court.