Law enforcement agencies are increasingly using conversations with chatbots as evidence in criminal cases. This was reported by CNN, citing various cases and expert opinions.
In one instance, two graduate students from the University of South Florida went missing in April. A neighbor of one of them asked ChatGPT an unusual question:
“What happens if you put a person in a black garbage bag and throw them in a dumpster?” wrote Hisham Abugharbie.
The chatbot responded that it “sounds dangerous.” The suspect then asked another question:
“How will they find out?”
Among other prompts were:
- Is it legal to keep a gun at home without a license?
- How can you change a car's VIN?
- Have there been cases of survival after a sniper shot to the head?
- Can neighbors hear a gunshot?
- What water temperature causes instant burns?
These records were included in court documents, leading to Abugharbie being charged with double homicide.
“I think any communications with AI bots are a goldmine for law enforcement. [Suspects] believe their interactions with AI will remain confidential or undetected, so they often ask direct and candid questions,” commented cybersecurity expert and Washington attorney Ilya Kolchenko.
CNN noted that these criminal cases highlight the growing use of chatbots for personal advice and the lack of privacy protections for such conversations. These discussions are not protected by law in the same way as communications with a licensed attorney or doctor.
When communicating with a specialist, there is medical or attorney-client privilege, whereas the developer of ChatGPT is required to provide transcripts in legal proceedings.
“In our firm, we view it this way: anything someone inputs into ChatGPT can be disclosed in a legal process,” commented Texas attorney Virginia Hammerly.
Chat Logs in Court
The use of AI conversations in criminal cases is a new phenomenon, but it resembles how the law treats Google search queries.
Experts argue that this type of electronic evidence can reveal a person's motives, actions, and psychological state.
In 2025, Brian Walsh was convicted of murdering his wife after prosecutors presented jurors with Google search queries. These included questions like “10 ways to dispose of a dead body” or “can you be charged with murder without a body?”.
In October, federal prosecutors charged Jonathan Rinderknecht with arson, alleging he started a destructive fire in California. Part of the evidence included queries to ChatGPT.
Investigations Against OpenAI
As investigators examine the impact of ChatGPT, they have begun to scrutinize the chatbot's responses. In April, the Florida Attorney General opened a criminal investigation into OpenAI, claiming the company's AI provided “substantial advice” to a suspect in a mass shooting at a state university.
At the end of April, victims of a February school shooting in Canada filed a lawsuit against Sam Altman and his company, alleging they were complicit in the attack.
Recall that in August 2025, OpenAI shared plans to address shortcomings in ChatGPT when dealing with “sensitive situations.” This was prompted by a lawsuit from a family blaming the chatbot for a tragedy involving their son.