OpenAI, Sam Altman sued over Tumbler Ridge school shooting

A Canadian province of British Columbia has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman in a US federal court in California over the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting.

The February 10 attack resulted in eight deaths at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. OpenAI’s safety team flagged the shooter’s ChatGPT account for gun violence references months before the February attack, but the company failed to alert local law enforcement.

Under the lawsuit, it seeks damages to fund recovery efforts in the province after the attack. Moreover, it also seeks for an order directing changes to the way the company manages ChatGPT conversations that could incite violence.

In April, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman published an open letter stating he was "deeply sorry" that the company did not alert law enforcement regarding the banned account.

BC Attorney General Niki Sharma stated that OpenAI has not taken meaningful steps to address community concerns, demanding stronger safeguards, transparency, and accountability.

"The company still has an opportunity to demonstrate accountability by strengthening safeguards, improving transparency and taking concrete action to help prevent similar tragedies in the future."

A spokesperson for OpenAI, Drew Pusateri, called the shooting incident an unspeakable tragedy in an issued statement while assuring that OpenAI remains committed to working collaboratively with government and law enforcement officials and ensuring safety work.

Prior to this lawsuit, more than 30 family members of victims and bereaved ones impacted by the attack filed lawsuits in California in which they accused the company of having a chance to prevent the shooting.