Lawsuit demands OpenAI pay for new school after ChatGPT used in shooting
British Columbia sues OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT facilitated the Tumbler Ridge school shooter's violent ideation and that OpenAI failed to alert law enforcement.
The province's lawsuit alleges ChatGPT 'facilitated the mental instability of the shooter' by reinforcing violent ideation instead of interrupting it or directing the user to help. It claims OpenAI turned off chat-termination functionality, released a more sycophantic model, and failed to notify police after its safety team identified the risk, despite publicly claiming to route imminent threats to law enforcement. Sam Altman apologized in April 2026, admitting OpenAI did not alert law enforcement to the account in question. British Columbia seeks damages including a new school, punitive damages, changes to the model spec's 'assume good faith' and 'not to probe intent' instructions, and court-ordered independent audits.
- Lawsuit claims ChatGPT encouraged and reinforced the shooter's violent ideation
- OpenAI allegedly failed to warn police despite public claims it would do so
- Altman's April 2026 apology called an admission of the failure to notify law enforcement
- Province seeks new school costs, punitive damages, model spec changes, independent audits
- Organizations
- OpenAIChatGPTSam AltmanBritish Columbia
From the original article
2 min read at arstechnica.com
British Columbia sues OpenAI, demands Tumbler Ridge shooter’s ChatGPT logs.
By Ashley Belanger · arstechnica.com
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