Similar to Meta lobbying for age verification laws.
OpenAI has been secretly funding a California-based child safety advocacy group, the Parents and Kids Safe AI Coalition, to push for legislation that requires age verification and other safeguards for minors using AI. Many groups and individuals supporting the coalition were unaware of OpenAI’s significant financial backing, a fact the company appears to have intentionally obscured. This “shadow funding” has drawn criticism, with one nonprofit leader describing it as “grimy” and “misleading.” The proposed legislation, the Parents and Kids Safe AI Act, would mandate age assurance requirements, a service that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s company offers, raising questions about potential self-serving motives behind their lobbying efforts. OpenAI’s involvement highlights a pattern of extensive lobbying for favorable regulation, but their covert approach to this specific child safety initiative has caused concern among potential allies.