OpenAI changed its contract with the Pentagon under public pressure, but the damage was done

The deal that set the internet on fire

It all started at the end of February 2026 when OpenAI signed a contract to implement its AI models on the Pentagon’s classified networks. The move came just hours after the Trump administration blacklisted its main competitor, Anthropic, for refusing to remove security measures preventing the use of its technology for mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. OpenAI was immediately accused of “opportunistically” taking advantage of the situation and selling user privacy for a lucrative government contract.

A massive negative reaction followed, fueled by the #QuitGPT movement on social networks, and an almost three hundred percent jump in app uninstalls was recorded. Under pressure, director Sam Altman admitted that the entire process was “opportunistic and sloppy” and announced changes to the contract. According to the new version, the use of technology for domestic and mass surveillance of American citizens is explicitly prohibited, citing the Fourth Amendment of the American Constitution.

Does anyone believe Sam Altman?

Despiteč Despite Altman’s assurances, users remained extremely skeptical. Many do not believe in the announced changes, and the dominant sentiment is that the wordč about an ordinary PR show aimed at calming the public. The opinion spread that the director’s word cannot be trusted. and that his statements are worthless without concrete and verifiable evidence of a change in the contract.

Also, there were doubts about the very possibility of a simple change to the council. of the concluded contract with the government, considering the extremely complex state procurement procedures. Observers warn that such contracts cannot “just change” overnight. Many concluded that Altman’s move was only proof that public pressure was working, but not that the company had sincerely changed its intentions.

As a direct consequence, many users publicly announced the cancellation of their subscriptions and the deletion of their accounts. A move to competing platforms like Claude, whose popularity skyrocketed during this controversy, was also noted. Of particular concern was the fact that the promises of protection from surveillance apply exclusively to US citizens, which created a feeling of insecurity and mistrust among hundreds of millions of users outside the US. It seems that OpenAI has permanently damaged its reputation with this move, and quick apologies and promises are not enough to restore the trust of the community that made them famous.