OpenAI has signed a deal with the Pentagon to use its technologies. This raises concerns about mass surveillance or the production of automated weapons. As a result, Americans are boycotting it en masse.
A movement called QuitGPT is asking users in America to cancel their ChatGPT subscriptions and stop using it. Over four million people have already joined the boycott on their website. It's one of the biggest consumer boycotts in recent years. But why did it happen?
It all started on February 27, when ChatGPT's competitor, Anthropic (Claude), refused to give the Pentagon unlimited access to its AI and user data, which would allow mass population surveillance or the creation of weapons capable of killing without human oversight. In response, Donald Trump ordered all U.S. federal organizations to stop using Claude AI. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that any company doing business with the U.S. military is banned from using AI from Anthropic.
OpenAI quietly signed the deal
The Pentagon signed a deal with OpenAI within hours. The company, which owns ChatGPT, allowed the government to use all its technologies for "any lawful purpose," which could potentially include mass surveillance of the U.S. population.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) already uses AI in recruitment. Due to an AI error, untrained agents were reportedly sent into the field, according to NBC News. The new government deal with OpenAI raises concerns that ICE might use its technology for tracking and deporting people.
After a wave of criticism, company CEO Sam Altman stated that the agreement was modified so the technology couldn’t be used to spy on the public, according to the BBC. OpenAI is also funding an international lobbying organization trying to prevent stricter AI regulation.
Americans aren’t happy that the money they send OpenAI each month as a subscription fee is being used to fund Donald Trump's administration, uncritical cooperation with the U.S. Department of Defense, and lobbying against user data business regulation.
ChatGPT isn’t your friend or therapist
It's important to think about what data you're entering into ChatGPT. It might seem like chatting with a friend who gives advice. But remember, you’re talking to a computer server owned by a company that profits from selling and analyzing your data.
Additionally, last year, OpenAI President Greg Brockman donated $25 million to Maga Inc, the largest political organization supporting Donald Trump, becoming Trump's largest donor in the current election period. He claimed it was part of OpenAI’s mission for “the good of humanity.” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman donated a million dollars to Trump’s inauguration fund in 2025.
News of the deal also comes at a time when the public in America is angered by campaigns like the new smart doorbell cameras from Ring, introducing facial recognition. With AI, they can monitor who’s on the street in 4K.
Americans fear mass population surveillance with Ring cameras after ICE deports and arrests alleged illegal immigrants en masse. People worry that if the government had access to AI mass surveillance, it could identify people for arrest on the streets.
What are the alternatives?
If you decide to stop using ChatGPT, don't worry. There are several alternatives you can check out. Some are switching to Anthropic’s AI Claude. While it also trades your data, it offers similar functions to ChatGPT.
Additionally, Switzerland recently released its own AI chatbot—Apertus. It's open source and based on ethical principles, using only data voluntarily provided by users for training. This means it doesn’t learn to create images from stolen works.
