{{Short description|Legal technology chatbot}} {{Infobox software | title = | name = DoNotPay | logo = File:DoNotPay logo.svg | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo caption = | screenshot = | screenshot_size = | screenshot_alt = | caption = | collapsible = | author = Joshua Browder | released = {{Start date and age|2015}} | discontinued = | latest release version = | latest release date = | latest preview version = | latest preview date = | programming language = | operating system = iOS, Android | platform = | size = | language = English | language count = | language footnote = | genre = Legal technology, chatbot | license = | alexa = | website = {{URL|https://donotpay.com/}} | standard = | AsOf = }}
'''DoNotPay''' is an American company specializing in online legal services and chatbots. The product provides a "robot lawyer" service that claims to make use of artificial intelligence to contest parking tickets and provide various other legal services, with a subscription cost of $36 for three months.<ref name="tc-potholes">{{Cite web |last=Kumparak |first=Greg |date=2021-09-09 |title=DoNotPay's 'robot lawyer' can now help report potholes or fallen trees to the city, file damage claims |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/09/donotpays-robot-lawyer-can-now-help-report-potholes-or-fallen-trees-to-the-city-file-damage-claims/ |access-date=2021-09-09 |website=TechCrunch |archive-date=2021-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909210312/https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/09/donotpays-robot-lawyer-can-now-help-report-potholes-or-fallen-trees-to-the-city-file-damage-claims/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
==History and services== DoNotPay was founded in 2015 by Joshua Browder.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stanforddaily.com/2016/07/19/qa-with-joshua-browder-creator-of-ticket-fighting-chatbot/|title=Q&A: Joshua Browder '19, creator of ticket-fighting chatbot|date=July 19, 2016|website=The Stanford Daily}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90840073/why-legal-services-chatbot-donotpay-is-abandoning-its-idea-of-putting-a-robot-in-court|title=Why legal services chatbot DoNotPay is abandoning its idea of putting a robot in court|first=Chris|last=Stokel-Walker|date=January 26, 2023|website=Fast Company}}</ref> DoNotPay started off as an app for contesting parking tickets. It sells services which generate documents on legal issues ranging from consumer protection to immigration rights; it states that these are generated via automation and AI.<ref>{{cite news|work=Fox 5|url=https://www.fox5dc.com/news/robot-lawyer-app-allows-you-to-sue-anyone-with-press-of-a-button|title=Robot Lawyer: App allows you to sue anyone with press of a button|first=Jaclyn|last=Kelley|date=October 18, 2018|language=en|access-date=2019-10-16|archive-date=2019-10-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016012118/https://www.fox5dc.com/news/robot-lawyer-app-allows-you-to-sue-anyone-with-press-of-a-button|url-status=live}}</ref> The company claims its application is supported by the IBM Watson AI.<ref name="MercuryNews">{{cite news|work=The Mercury News|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/03/28/joshua-browder-22-builds-robot-lawyers/|title=Stanford student's quest to clear parking tickets leads to "robot lawyers"|first=Lisa M.|last=Kreiger|date=March 28, 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-10-16|archive-date=2021-10-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006034322/https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/03/28/joshua-browder-22-builds-robot-lawyers/|url-status=live}}</ref> It is currently available in the United Kingdom and United States (in all 50 states).<ref name="Johnson" />
DoNotPay states that its services help customers seek refunds on flight tickets and hotel bookings,<ref name="Sharma">{{cite news|last=Sharma|first=Ruchira|date=16 September 2019|title=New app promises to automatically cancel subscriptions at end of a free trial period so you won't get charged|language=en|work=iNews.co.uk|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/technology/free-trial-surfing-app-cancels-free-subscriptions-netflix-619055|access-date=2019-10-16|archive-date=2019-10-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016012121/https://inews.co.uk/news/technology/free-trial-surfing-app-cancels-free-subscriptions-netflix-619055|url-status=live}}</ref> cancel free trials,<ref>{{cite news|last=Dreyfuss|first=Emily|date=July 7, 2019|title=This Clever New Service Auto-Cancels Your Free Trials|language=en|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/story/free-trial-card/|access-date=2019-10-16|archive-date=2019-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022015612/https://www.wired.com/story/free-trial-card/|url-status=live}}</ref> sue people,<ref>{{cite news|last=Haskins|first=Caroline|date=Oct 10, 2018|title=New App Lets You 'Sue Anyone By Pressing a Button'|language=en|work=Vice|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/donotpay-app-lets-you-sue-anyone-by-pressing-a-button/|access-date=2019-10-16|archive-date=2020-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214123154/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/bj43y8/donotpay-app-lets-you-sue-anyone-by-pressing-a-button|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Quinn|first=Lindsey|date=October 17, 2018|title=Josh Browder's DoNotPay lets users 'swipe right' on court settlements and sue for $25k|language=en|work=The Hustle|url=https://thehustle.co/donotpay-josh-browder-tinder-lawsuits/|access-date=2019-10-16|archive-date=2019-10-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016012126/https://thehustle.co/donotpay-josh-browder-tinder-lawsuits/|url-status=live}}</ref> apply for asylum or homeless housing,<ref name="Johnson">{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Khari |date=July 12, 2017 |title=DoNotPay bot expands its free legal services across the U.S. and U.K. |language=en |work=VentureBeat |url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/07/12/donotpay-expands-its-free-legal-services-across-u-s-and-u-k/ |url-status=live |access-date=2019-10-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624230645/https://venturebeat.com/2017/07/12/donotpay-expands-its-free-legal-services-across-u-s-and-u-k/ |archive-date=2020-06-24}}</ref> seek claims from Equifax during the aftermath of its security breach,<ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-09-12|title=Chatbot offers legal help to Equifax data breach victims|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-41239513|access-date=2021-04-22|archive-date=2021-04-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422122139/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-41239513|url-status=live}}</ref> and obtain U.S. visas and green cards.<ref name="LawSite">{{cite news|last=Ambrogi|first=Robert|date=October 10, 2018|title=New Bots From DoNotPay Includes One That Lets You Sue In Any Small Claims Court At The Press Of A Button|language=en|work=LawSites|url=https://www.lawsitesblog.com/2018/10/new-bots-donotpay-includes-one-lets-sue-small-claims-court-press-button.html|access-date=2019-10-16|archive-date=2019-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201040251/https://www.lawsitesblog.com/2018/10/new-bots-donotpay-includes-one-lets-sue-small-claims-court-press-button.html|url-status=live}}</ref> DoNotPay offers a ''Free Trial Card'' feature which gives users a virtual credit card number that can be used to sign up for free online trials (such as Netflix and Spotify).<ref name="Sharma" /> As soon as the free trial period ends, the card automatically declines any charges.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dreyfuss|first=Emily|date=July 7, 2019|title=App that cancels subscriptions launches in UK|language=en|work=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-49688309|access-date=2019-10-16|archive-date=2019-12-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206130339/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-49688309|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Virtual Credit Cards|work=DoNotPay|url=https://donotpay.com/learn/virtual-credit-cards/|access-date=2019-10-16|archive-date=2019-12-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230053004/https://donotpay.com/learn/virtual-credit-cards/|url-status=live}}</ref> DoNotPay also claims that its services allow users to automatically apply for refunds, cancel subscriptions, fight spam in people's inboxes, combat volatile airline prices, and file damage claims with city offices.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Kumparak |first=Greg |date=2021-09-09 |title=DoNotPay's 'robot lawyer' can now help report potholes or fallen trees to the city, file damage claims |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/09/donotpays-robot-lawyer-can-now-help-report-potholes-or-fallen-trees-to-the-city-file-damage-claims/ |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920170850/https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/09/donotpays-robot-lawyer-can-now-help-report-potholes-or-fallen-trees-to-the-city-file-damage-claims/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Sawers |first=Paul |date=2020-10-07 |title=DoNotPay's 'robo lawyer' now scans your emails to fight spammers, cancel subs, and get refunds |url=https://venturebeat.com/ai/donotpays-robo-lawyer-now-scans-your-emails-to-fight-spammers-cancel-subs-and-get-refunds/ |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171342/https://venturebeat.com/ai/donotpays-robo-lawyer-now-scans-your-emails-to-fight-spammers-cancel-subs-and-get-refunds/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2021, DoNotPay raised $10 million from investors, including Andreesen Horowitz, Lux Capital, Tribe Capital, and others, reaching a valuation of $210 million.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Simpson |first=Andrew G. |date=2021-08-02 |title=Robot Lawyer DoNotPay, Valued at $210 Million, Plans to Target Small Businesses |url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2021/08/02/625401.htm |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=Insurance Journal |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171015/https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2021/08/02/625401.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2024, DoNotPay began paying dividends to its investors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Melendez |first=Steven |date=April 25, 2024 |title=DoNotPay pays off for investors and staff |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/91112580/donotpay-now-profitable |website=Fast Company}}</ref>
== Reception == In 2016, Joshua Browder, the company's founder, told ''The Guardian'' that the chatbot had contested more than 250,000 parking tickets in London and New York and won 160,000 of them, although the newspaper did not appear to verify the claim.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gibbs|first=Samuel|date=28 Jun 2016|title=Chatbot lawyer overturns 160,000 parking tickets in London and New York|language=en|work=Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jun/28/chatbot-ai-lawyer-donotpay-parking-tickets-london-new-york|access-date=2019-10-16|archive-date=2020-02-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200208195045/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jun/28/chatbot-ai-lawyer-donotpay-parking-tickets-london-new-york|url-status=live}}</ref>
DoNotPay's effectiveness and marketing have been subject to praise and criticism.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=DoNotPay honored with ABA Brown Award for access to justice efforts|url=https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2020/01/donotpay-honored-with-aba-brown-award-for-access-to-justice-effo/|website=American Bar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126063029/https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2020/01/donotpay-honored-with-aba-brown-award-for-access-to-justice-effo/|url-status=dead|archive-date=Jan 26, 2023|date=Jan 23, 2020}}</ref> In September 2024, the company received a $193,000 fine from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for falsely advertising the capabilities of some of its artificial intelligence (AI) services.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vasani |first=Sheena |date=2024-09-25 |title='Robot lawyer' company faces $193,000 fine as part of FTC's AI crackdown |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/25/24254405/federal-trade-commission-donotpay-robot-lawyers-artificial-intelligence-scams |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mangan |first=Dan |date=2024-09-25 |title=FTC cracks down on DoNotPay, others for 'deceptive AI claims and schemes' |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/25/ftc-crackdown-ai-claims-donotpay-companies.html |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> The FTC also stated that the company never tested the legal accuracy of the chatbot's answers.<ref name=":6" />
Browder's technology has received mixed reviews. For example, a blog post from ''The Guardian'' noted that it "just drafted an impressive notice under the Data Protection Act 1998 not to use my personal information for direct marketing."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-07-16|title=Come friendly robots and take our dullest jobs {{!}} John Naughton|url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jul/16/come-friendly-robots-and-take-our-dullest-jobs-automation|access-date=2021-04-11|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=2021-05-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504031444/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jul/16/come-friendly-robots-and-take-our-dullest-jobs-automation|url-status=live}}</ref> Similarly, a writer with ''The American Lawyer'' noted that, "one of DoNotPay's chatbots helped me draft a strong, well-cited and appropriately toned letter requesting extended maternity leave."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.com/legaltechnews/almID/1202793181282/|title=The DoNotPay Dilemma: Can Chatbots Provide Access to Justice Without a Lawyer?|website=ALM Law.com|date=2017-07-17|access-date=2023-02-02|archive-date=2023-01-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106210142/https://www.law.com/legaltechnews/almID/1202793181282/|url-status=live}}</ref>
However, ''Legal Cheek'' tested the service in 2016 with "fairly basic legal questions" and noted that it failed to answer most of them.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2016-01-15|title=Computer science student, 19, says legal profession should be 'very scared' of his new 'robot lawyer' - Legal Cheek|language=en-US|work=Legal Cheek|url=https://www.legalcheek.com/2016/01/computer-science-student-19-says-legal-profession-should-be-very-scared-of-his-new-robot-lawyer/|access-date=2017-09-01|archive-date=2017-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831220857/https://www.legalcheek.com/2016/01/computer-science-student-19-says-legal-profession-should-be-very-scared-of-his-new-robot-lawyer/|url-status=live}}</ref> Above the Law noted that the service may "be too good to be true" due to errors in the legal advice provided, noting that when dealing with "things as important as securing immigration status, which is one of the services DoNotPay promotes, mistakes can ruin lives." Above the Law ultimately recommended the service for "clear-cut issues like parking tickets or non-critical matters," while cautioning against its use for legal issues with higher stakes.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Wilkins|first=Steph|title=DoNotPay Is the Latest Legal Tech Darling, But Some Are Saying Do Not Click|url=https://abovethelaw.com/legal-innovation-center/2018/10/12/donotpay-is-the-latest-legal-tech-darling-but-some-are-saying-do-not-click/|access-date=2021-04-11|website=Above The Law's Legal Tech Non-Event|date=12 October 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=2023-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202225805/https://abovethelaw.com/legal-innovation-center/2018/10/12/donotpay-is-the-latest-legal-tech-darling-but-some-are-saying-do-not-click/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In January 2023, Browder claimed that the organization would attempt to use DoNotPay live in court, but was forced to halt after being warned about the unlicensed practice of law. ''NPR'' wrote that "some observers" have had "mixed to shoddy results attempting to use its basic features", and noted that Browder, the company's founder, is known for attention-seeking stunts.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Allyn |first=Bobby |date=25 January 2023 |title=A robot was scheduled to argue in court, then came the jail threats |work=National Public Radio |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/01/25/1151435033/a-robot-was-scheduled-to-argue-in-court-then-came-the-jail-threats |access-date=1 February 2023 |archive-date=30 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130102114/https://www.npr.org/2023/01/25/1151435033/a-robot-was-scheduled-to-argue-in-court-then-came-the-jail-threats |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Legal action ==
=== 2023 class-action lawsuits === In March 2023, two separate class-action lawsuits were filed against DoNotPay.
The first lawsuit was filed on behalf of DoNotPay's customers under California's Unfair Competition Law.<ref name=":5" /> The plaintiffs alleged that the company "misled customers and misrepresented its product"<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Leffer |first=Lauren |date=2023-03-13 |title=DoNotPay, the 'Robot Lawyer,' Is Being Sued |url=https://gizmodo.com/donotpay-robot-lawyer-speeding-ticket-ai-1850218589 |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=Gizmodo |language=en}}</ref> and was "practicing law without a license"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Merken|first=Sara|date=2023-03-09|title=Lawsuit pits class action firm against 'robot lawyer' DoNotPay|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/lawsuit-pits-class-action-firm-against-robot-lawyer-donotpay-2023-03-09/|access-date=2023-03-30}}</ref>. The parties "reached a settlement in principle" without exposing the details of the settlement.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Merken |first1=Sara |title=Legal AI startup DoNotPay reaches settlement in customer class action |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/legal-ai-startup-donotpay-reaches-settlement-customer-class-action-2024-06-06/ |website=reuters.com |publisher=Reuters |access-date=5 August 2024}}</ref>
The second lawsuit was filed by law firm MillerKing on its own behalf, alleging that DoNotPay causes "irreparable harm" to its customers and "infringes on the rights of law firms employing those who are properly licensed."<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |last=Merken|first=Sara|date=17 November 2023|title='Robot lawyer' DoNotPay beats lawsuit by Illinois law firm|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/robot-lawyer-donotpay-beats-lawsuit-by-illinois-law-firm-2023-11-17/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ilsd.95287/gov.uscourts.ilsd.95287.1.0.pdf|title=MillerKing LLC v. DoNotPay Inc, case 23-cv-863 document 1. (US District Court, Southern IL)|date=March 15, 2023}}</ref> Chief District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel dismissed this lawsuit without prejudice for lack of standing, holding that the plaintiffs failed to allege any concrete injury.<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ilsd.95287/gov.uscourts.ilsd.95287.34.0.pdf|title=MillerKing LLC v. DoNotPay Inc, case 23-cv-863 document 34. (US District Court, Southern IL)|date=November 17, 2023}}</ref> === 2024 Federal Trade Commission fine === In September 2024, the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced an enforcement action against DoNotPay, alleging that the company "relied on artificial intelligence as a way to supercharge deceptive or unfair conduct that harms consumers[...]."<ref>{{Cite web |orig-date=2024-09-25 |title=DoNotPay Case Summary |url=https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/donotpay |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=ftc.gov |series=FTC Legal Library (Cases and Proceedings)|date=25 September 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Novak |first=Matt |date=2024-09-25 |title=DoNotPay Has to Pay Up Over 'World's First Robot Lawyer' |url=https://gizmodo.com/donotpay-has-to-pay-up-over-worlds-first-robot-lawyer-2000503265 |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=Gizmodo |language=en-US}}</ref> For example, the company's advertising featured a quote supposedly from the ''Los Angeles Times'' which praised its services, but was actually from a high schooler's op-ed on the newspaper's "High School Insider" platform.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Belanger |first=Ashley |date=2024-09-25 |title=DoNotPay has to pay $193K for falsely touting untested AI lawyer, FTC says |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/09/startup-behind-worlds-first-robot-lawyer-to-pay-193k-for-false-ads-ftc-says/2/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref> The FTC also stated that the company never tested the quality of its legal services or hired attorneys to assess the accuracy of the chatbot's answers.<ref name=":6" />
In the proposed settlement, DoNotPay did not admit liability, but did agree to several penalties, including a fine of $193,000 and limitations on its future marketing claims.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-25 |title=FTC Announces Crackdown on Deceptive AI Claims and Schemes |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/09/ftc-announces-crackdown-deceptive-ai-claims-schemes |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=ftc.gov}}</ref>
==See also== *Artificial intelligence and law *Computational law *Lawbot *Legal expert system *Legal informatics *Legal technology
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://donotpay.com/}}
Category:Applications of artificial intelligence Category:2015 introductions Category:Legal software