tech
Families sue OpenAI over failure to report Canada mass shooter’s behavior on ChatGPT
New lawsuits allege employees urged company to notify authorities months before deadly Tumbler Ridge attack
TL;DR
- Seven lawsuits have been filed against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman by families of victims of a mass shooting at a British Columbia secondary school.
- The lawsuits allege that OpenAI employees flagged the shooter's ChatGPT account eight months before the attack, identifying a credible threat of gun violence.
- Families claim employees urged OpenAI leadership to notify Canadian law enforcement, but the company chose to deactivate the account instead.
- The shooting resulted in the deaths of the shooter's mother, brother, and six students, with 27 others injured.
- The lawsuit accuses OpenAI and Altman of negligence, aiding and abetting a mass shooting, wrongful death, and product liability.
- OpenAI stated it has zero-tolerance for violence and has strengthened safeguards, while acknowledging the tragedy and committing to preventing future incidents.
- Sam Altman sent a letter apologizing to the community for not notifying Canadian police about the shooter's potential threat.
- The cases are part of a growing trend of lawsuits against AI companies regarding alleged exacerbation of mental health crises and provocation of violent acts.