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First Person Ever Jailed for AI Protest: Retired Teacher Kaufmyn Serves Time After OpenAI Blockade

September 17, 2026 at 20:11 EDT

Policy & Regulation
AI Agents

Wynd Kaufmyn, a 69-year-old retired teacher, became the first person imprisoned for protesting artificial intelligence after chaining OpenAI's headquarters entrance in February 2025. She surrendered to serve seven days on August 14, 2026, with no regrets about her actions.

September 2026 · AI Activism

First AI Protest Conviction Goes to Prison

69-year-old activist Wynd Kaufmyn becomes the first person jailed for protesting AI development after chaining OpenAI's headquarters in February 2025.

7 days

Jail time served (with credits)

Age of protester

Misdemeanor counts

20 yrs

Max penalty proposed

Sentence Breakdown

14 days

Original

7 days

Served

Jail-time credits doubled the effect of each day served

Context: AGI Criminalization Debate

One week before Kaufmyn's surrender, Congress proposed the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act, threatening up to 20 years' imprisonment for building superintelligent AI—the same day OpenAI announced GPT-6 Astra as artificial general intelligence.

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