OpenAI to Notify Parents of Teen Account Deactivations for Violence After Canadian Authorities Summoned Company

OpenAI will notify parents and guardians with linked accounts when a teenager is removed from ChatGPT for violating policies on violent threats or acts of violence online. The company said the alerts will include a link to additional context about the account deactivation.

The feature builds on parental controls introduced last year that let parents link accounts, set usage hours, limit sensitive content, and receive alerts if the chatbot detects signs of self-harm.

OpenAI developed the new violence notifications with Moonshot, a firm focused on monitoring online violence. "Notifying a parent when a serious concern arises, with a route to more context, is a critical first step in giving families the chance to step in early and seek help," Moonshot founder Vidhya Ramalingam said. " The update follows the 2025 Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia mass shooting.

Canadian authorities summoned OpenAI after reports that the company had not notified officials when it banned the suspect's account. OpenAI chief Sam Altman apologized for the oversight. OpenAI also added the option to enable Study Mode directly from parental controls, which prompts the chatbot to give hints rather than direct answers.

Teen users who spend extended periods in ChatGPT will now receive more frequent break reminders.