The B.C. government has now filed a lawsuit in California against OpenAI for what it alleges was its “failure to notify law enforcement of threats made on its platform prior to the mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School” in February.
Eight people, including six children, were killed in the attack on Feb. 10.
More than two dozen people were injured.
Attorney General Niki Sharma said that the province is working with the families impacted by the shooting and the Board of Education for the Peace River South School District to seek “accountability from OpenAI and its decision-makers and pursuing support for community rebuilding efforts including the construction of a new Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.”
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Sharma added that this tragedy raised some serious questions about what responsibility tech companies have when it comes to credible threats of serious violence.
OpenAI’s internal safety team had previously flagged the shooter, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, as having concerning activity on ChatGPT which included scenarios involving gun violence.
Sharma said she has not read the interactions between Van Rootselaar and ChatGPT.
“We have asked OpenAI to disclose these chats. They have refused. We should all be asking them why,” she added.
“While governments and regulators grapple with the possible solutions, one thing is clear to me. Our laws and safety frameworks have not kept pace. We cannot allow these companies to self-regulate.”
A few weeks ago, an additional 30 lawsuits were filed in California, which brings the total to 37 claims against OpenAI and founder Sam Altman related to the mass shooting.
The 30 new plaintiffs are educators, a principal and students, including a 13-year-old referred to as ‘A.C.,’ who was trapped in the library.
Sharma said she has also written to federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser, AI Minister Evan Solomon and Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Mark Miller asking for changes to the Criminal Code.
“There needs to be human and corporate accountability for the dangerous actions of AI,” Sharma added.
“The changes I’m asking for would ensure that AI providers are placed on an equal footing with other companies and industries. These amendments would send a clear signal to AI providers to design their products safely or face the consequences.”
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