British Columbia: The Canadian province of British Columbia has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that the company failed to notify authorities about concerning interactions on ChatGPT involving the suspect in the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting before the attack.
British Columbia Attorney General Niki Sharma filed the lawsuit in a US federal court in California. It raises questions about the responsibilities of technology companies when they become aware of what authorities describe as credible threats of serious violence.
The legal action follows revelations that Jessie Van Rootselaar’s ChatGPT activity had been flagged by OpenAI’s safety team months before the February shooting because of references to gun violence. The company did not alert local law enforcement before the 18-year-old carried out the attack.
Eight people, including six children, were killed in the February shooting, while others were injured. Families of those killed and injured have also filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI over the company’s handling of the suspect’s interactions with ChatGPT.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman apologised to the victims’ families in April, acknowledging that the company had not alerted law enforcement. In an open letter, Altman said he was ‘deeply sorry’ that the company had failed to do so.
Sharma remarked that the OpenAI had not taken meaningful steps to address concerns raised by survivors, families and the Tumbler Ridge community. She called on the company to strengthen safeguards, improve transparency, and take concrete measures to prevent similar incidents.
Sharma stated that, “We have asked OpenAI to disclose these chats. They have refused. We should all be asking them: Why?.” Sharma pointed that the case was filed in California because the alleged decision not to report the account was made in the US state. The province is seeking damages, which Sharma said would be directed towards rebuilding the secondary school affected by the shooting.
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