Thirty new lawsuits filed against OpenAI following Tumbler Ridge school shooting

Thirty additional lawsuits have been filed in California against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman in connection with the deadly February 10 school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. The new plaintiffs include students, educators and a school principal who survived the attack, bringing the total number of related claims against OpenAI and Altman to 37. Eight people were killed in the attack, which began at a residence before continuing at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.

The lawsuits allege OpenAI failed to respond adequately to warning signs associated with a ChatGPT account connected to the shooter. OpenAI previously confirmed that it identified and banned the account months before the attack for violating its usage policies. The company said it considered contacting law enforcement but determined the activity did not involve an imminent and credible threat or plans to cause serious physical harm, meaning it did not meet the company’s threshold for referral.

The civil claims include allegations of negligence, strict product liability, aiding and abetting a mass shooting and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs are seeking access to the shooter’s ChatGPT history and OpenAI’s internal records concerning the decision not to alert Canadian authorities, along with court-ordered changes to the company’s safety practices. None of the allegations has been proven in court, and OpenAI and Altman had not filed responses to the latest claims when they were reported; the company says it has since strengthened its systems for detecting and escalating potential threats of violence.