B.C. government suing OpenAI for alleged role in Tumbler Ridge mass shooting | CBC News

Attorney general says lawsuit based on OpenAI's failure to notify police of threats made on ChatGPT

B.C.'s attorney general says the provincial government is suing OpenAI in California for its alleged role in the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting in February.

She said the province is suing OpenAI for its failure to notify law enforcement of threats made on its platform, ChatGPT, before the mass shooting.

It is also suing the company for designing an unsafe product, Sharma said.

Six children and two adults were killed in the shooting on Feb. 10. The 18-year-old shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police.

"We owe it to the families, survivors, and everyone whose life was changed by this tragedy, to get answers and accountability," Sharma said.

OpenAI said in an emailed statement that the events of Tumbler Ridge were an unspeakable tragedy.

"Our thoughts remain with the victims, their families, and the entire community," said the statement.

"OpenAI remains committed to working collaboratively with government and law enforcement officials, and continuing to advance our ongoing safety work."

B.C.'s lawsuit comes in the wake of victims filing multiple civil claims of their own against OpenAI, also in California, where the company is headquartered.

Teachers, students file new wave of lawsuits against OpenAI over Tumbler Ridge shooting

Sharma said the conversation between OpenAI's ChatGPT and the shooter was alarming enough that it triggered an internal review, but that it was not reported to RCMP.