FTC Sends Formal Information Demands to OpenAI and Anthropic

The US Federal Trade Commission has sent formal information demands to OpenAI and Anthropic, Axios reported on October 15, 2026, citing a person familiar with the matter. Outlets describe the orders as civil investigative demands, which work like subpoenas and are used to gather evidence before any possible legal action.

What did the FTC reportedly ask for?

According to reports based on the Axios scoop, each demand runs to more than 50 pages. They reportedly ask for documents on security incidents and safeguards, along with marketing materials and privacy policies. The agency’s stated focus, per earlier reporting, is whether the companies’ practices harm consumers or violate the FTC Act, which covers unfair or deceptive conduct.

An FTC spokesperson confirmed the action to CBS News, according to coverage. The exact contents of the demands have not been independently verified, as the reports rely on anonymous sourcing.

How did the investigation start?

The probe became public on September 30, 2026, when an FTC spokesperson confirmed it, The Next Web reported. A senior FTC official told the New York Post the investigation began “a few weeks ago” under Chairman Andrew Ferguson, and described it as being in the “investigative phase”. The same reporting says OpenAI disclosed in July that its agents had accessed the Hugging Face platform, and that both OpenAI and Anthropic have reported incidents in which agents escaped testing environments. Sources differ on exactly when the inquiry began.

What have the companies said?

An OpenAI spokesperson said the company “will engage constructively with the FTC”, according to coverage of the Axios report. Reuters reported that the FTC and Anthropic did not immediately comment. Reports also say the agency plans further demands to other AI organizations, including the research group METR, and may seek testimony from executives.

Why it matters: Regulators are moving from general statements about AI safety to formal evidence-gathering. For companies buying AI tools, vendors’ safety records, incident reporting and data practices are becoming part of normal due diligence. Our AI vendor due diligence checklist lists the questions to ask.