British Columbia sues OpenAI over failure to warn police before deadly mass shooting

The government of British Columbia has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in California, alleging the company failed to alert law enforcement about concerning ChatGPT interactions involving the person who later carried out the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting.

The February 10 attack left eight victims dead, including six children, and more than two dozen people injured. British Columbia Attorney General Niki Sharma said the province is seeking accountability from OpenAI and wants to recover costs associated with the shooting.

The province alleges that OpenAI’s systems and safety personnel had flagged violent activity connected to the shooter’s ChatGPT account months before the attack but that police were not notified. Sharma said the province is also seeking access to the relevant conversations as part of its legal action.

OpenAI has previously acknowledged that it considered contacting law enforcement but did not do so at the time. The company later strengthened its safeguards and has disputed some allegations made in related lawsuits brought by survivors and victims’ families.

The provincial lawsuit is separate from dozens of other claims already filed against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman by people affected by the Tumbler Ridge shooting.