OpenAI is facing an online backlash after signing a deal with the United States Department of Defense to deploy its artificial intelligence models within the department’s classified network, prompting a growing campaign urging users to stop using its chatbot ChatGPT.
Soon after the agreement was announced, the hashtag #CancelChatGPT began trending on social media, with many users cancelling subscriptions and shifting to rival AI platforms. According to the boycott website QuitGPT, around 2.5 million people have pledged to stop using OpenAI’s services.
The backlash has coincided with a surge in popularity for Claude, developed by Anthropic, which recently overtook ChatGPT as the top AI application on Apple App Store in the United States.
Critics argue that OpenAI’s agreement with the Pentagon could expose user data and AI capabilities to military applications, including surveillance and warfare. The QuitGPT campaign warns that the technology could potentially be used in ways that compromise privacy and civil liberties.
The website also raises other concerns about OpenAI’s leadership. It alleges that OpenAI president Greg Brockman and his wife donated $25 million to MAGA Inc in 2025, while CEO Sam Altman reportedly contributed $1 million to the 2025 inauguration fund of former US president Donald Trump.
In addition, the campaign claims that a résumé-screening system used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement relies on GPT‑4, and accuses the company of spending $50 million to oppose state-level AI regulation in the United States.
Some OpenAI employees have also expressed concern about the agreement. In a post on X, OpenAI research scientist Aiden McLaughlin said he personally did not believe the deal was worth it and described internal discussions around the contract as intense.
In its official announcement, OpenAI said the contract allows the Pentagon to use its AI systems “for all lawful purposes” within existing laws and safety frameworks. The wording has drawn criticism from some users, who say the phrase could be interpreted broadly to include surveillance or military operations.
OpenAI has denied such possibilities and said the agreement includes strict safeguards. The company stated that its technology will not be used for mass domestic surveillance, fully autonomous weapons, or high-stakes automated decision-making systems such as social credit scoring.
The deal also comes amid tensions between the Pentagon and Anthropic. Earlier, Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei said his company rejected a similar agreement because it would require weakening safeguards on its AI system Claude.
