Families of seven victims of a mass shooting at a secondary school in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, have filed lawsuits against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, alleging negligence after the company failed to alert authorities about the shooter's troubling conversations with ChatGPT.
The lawsuits, filed Wednesday in a federal court in San Francisco, claim that the violent intentions of 18-year-old shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar were known to OpenAI. Employees flagged the shooter's account eight months before the attack and deemed it a credible and specific threat of gun violence, according to the suit.
The families allege that employees urged Altman and other senior leaders to notify Canadian law enforcement, but the company instead deactivated the account without warning authorities. The decision led to the devastating attack on February 10, when the shooter stormed the school with a modified rifle, killing seven and injuring 27 before taking their own life.
Details of the Attack
The shooter first killed their mother and 11-year-old brother at home, then entered the school and opened fire in a stairwell and library. Victims included five children aged 12 to 13, a teaching assistant, and the shooter. Survivor Maya Gebala, 12, suffered severe injuries and remains in intensive care with permanent disabilities expected.
The lawsuits accuse OpenAI and Altman of negligence, aiding and abetting a mass shooting, wrongful death, and product liability. Lawyers say this is the first wave of suits, with about two dozen more forthcoming.
OpenAI's Response
OpenAI expressed condolences and stated a zero-tolerance policy for violence. The company said it strengthened safeguards, improved detection of repeat violators, and enhanced mental health resources. However, the lawsuit claims OpenAI concealed the shooter's interactions to protect its IPO, valued at $1 trillion.
Altman apologized to the Tumbler Ridge community in a letter, but British Columbia Premier David Eby called the apology grossly insufficient. The lawsuits highlight broader concerns about AI companies' responsibility in preventing violence.
