Canadian province sues OpenAI over Tumbler Ridge school shooting

Image source, Reuters By Rachel Clun Business reporter Published 1 hour ago A Canadian province is suing OpenAI over its alleged failure to notify authorities about concerning user interactions on ChatGPT prior to the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting.

The company has previously apologised for not flagging Jessie Van Rootselaar's account to law enforcement before the 18-year-old killed eight people, including six children, in February.

British Columbia attorney general Niki Sharma said the lawsuit, filed to a US federal court on Monday, raised questions about "the responsibilities of technology companies when they become aware of credible threats of serious violence".

Families of those killed or injured in the shooting have filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI.

Media reports revealed that Van Rootselaar's ChatGPT activity was flagged by OpenAI's safety team for references to gun violence months before the attack, but the company did not alert local authorities.