OpenAI Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Unauthorized Sharing of User Data with Meta and Google

A new class action lawsuit accuses OpenAI of sharing user data—including chat queries and personal identifiers like emails and user IDs—with Meta and Google without obtaining proper user consent. Filed on May 13, 2026, in California, the lawsuit alleges that OpenAI’s data-sharing practices violate the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA).

The lawsuit specifically targets OpenAI’s integrations with Meta Pixel and Google Analytics, tools designed for data tracking and targeted advertising. According to the complaint, ChatGPT allegedly shares chat query topics, user IDs, and email addresses with both companies.

Attorney Rob Freund shared details of the lawsuit on X (formerly Twitter), stating:

ChatGPT allegedly shares your chat query topics, user IDs, and email addresses with Google and Meta, according to a new class action lawsuit filed today. pic.twitter.com/w5txL6HBCk

The lawsuit describes a data-tracking model commonly referred to as “surveillance capitalism”, a business model critics argue underpins much of the modern internet. OpenAI’s privacy policy acknowledges that it collects, stores, and shares consumer inputs and personal information. However, the lawsuit highlights the uniquely personal nature of chatbots like ChatGPT, which millions use for emotional support, mental healthcare, and even as a therapeutic tool.

For many users, ChatGPT serves as a friend, confidant, or romantic partner, leading them to share deeply personal thoughts and feelings. Even for those without an emotional connection, the chatbot is frequently used for business, health, financial, and legal advice. The lawsuit argues that analyzing a user’s chat history could reveal an exceptionally intimate portrait of their daily life and inner world.

OpenAI has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit. This case is not the first involving AI companies and privacy concerns. Earlier in 2026, a similar complaint was filed against Perplexity, which was later voluntarily dismissed. However, as Madeline Batt, a fellow at the Tech Justice Law Project, noted in Tech Policy Press, the Perplexity case highlighted how users unknowingly shared sensitive financial and legal information that was disclosed to Google and Meta via tracking technologies like Meta Pixel and Google DoubleClick.