In yet another chapter in the ongoing wave of lawsuits against big tech companies, OpenAI is facing a class-action lawsuit in the US. The complaint, filed in a California federal court, alleges that ChatGPT user data, including prompts, personal information, and email addresses was secretly shared with Google and Meta through hidden tracking tools, without users’ knowledge or consent.
The lawsuit has been filed on behalf of all US-based ChatGPT users who interacted with the platform via ChatGPT.com. It claims OpenAI integrated tracking tools such as Meta’s Facebook Pixel and Google Analytics into its website, allowing user interactions and chat data to be automatically shared with external advertising ecosystems.
According to the complaint, these tools operated in the background as users engaged with ChatGPT. Meta Pixel is alleged to have sent real-time interaction data to Meta’s servers, while Google Analytics reportedly added behavioural and demographic insights that could be used for targeted advertising and cross-device tracking.
The filing argues that ChatGPT users often treat AI chatbots as private spaces, discussing sensitive topics such as health, finances, and legal concerns, and therefore had a reasonable expectation of confidentiality.
It also cites research suggesting that a portion of data entered into AI systems can be confidential, strengthening concerns about privacy risks in everyday chatbot use.
The lawsuit claims violations of California privacy laws and the federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act, seeking damages for alleged data exposure. It targets only OpenAI, not Meta or Google, and focuses on the use of embedded tracking tools in ChatGPT.
This is among the first major federal class actions involving AI chatbot data practices, coming amid rising scrutiny of how AI companies handle user information. Similar cases have been filed against other AI firms, though some were later withdrawn.
OpenAI has not responded publicly, and the case is still in its early stages. If certified as a class action, it could set an important precedent for AI data privacy and user consent standards.
