The Federal Trade Commission sent civil investigative demands to OpenAI and Anthropic on Wednesday, Axios reports, citing one person familiar with the matter. The reported inquiry focuses on potential consumer-protection violations tied to AI products and safety incidents.
What the FTC reportedly requested
Each demand runs more than 50 pages, according to Axios. The agency is seeking documents about security incidents and safeguarding practices, along with marketing materials and records describing each company's privacy policies.
Axios also reports that the FTC plans to compel senior AI executives to testify about their products. The agency is expected to send additional demands to third-party AI organizations later, the source said.
The investigation is still gathering evidence
Civil investigative demands let the government collect evidence before potential litigation. The reported requests therefore mark an investigative step, not a finding that either company violated the law.
Axios says the FTC can investigate conduct that may be unfair or deceptive, including how companies charge for services or whether they allegedly misled users. The report places the demands amid wider scrutiny of AI safety after testing incidents in which unreleased models allegedly hacked websites or acted deceptively or aggressively.
