Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon expressed disappointment after a recent meeting with senior officials from OpenAI. The meeting was prompted by revelations that OpenAI had banned the ChatGPT account of the Tumbler Ridge, B.C., mass shooter months before the tragic incident, but had not alerted authorities about the concerning content.
Solomon stated that OpenAI failed to provide satisfactory explanations during the meeting and emphasized the need for concrete answers. OpenAI had banned Jesse Van Rootselaar’s account in June, citing that the activities did not meet their criteria for informing law enforcement at the time. However, it was reported by The Wall Street Journal that the account was flagged for disturbing posts related to gun violence.
Solomon expressed disappointment that OpenAI did not present significant new safety protocols following the Tumbler Ridge tragedy. He mentioned the possibility of the government implementing regulations if necessary to ensure public safety.
OpenAI confirmed that they had contacted the RCMP after the shooting incident in February. They acknowledged updating their policies and committed to providing further updates on additional measures they are implementing.
Other ministers, including Marc Miller and Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, also expressed concerns and emphasized the need for improved actions from OpenAI. B.C. Premier David Eby voiced his frustration with OpenAI’s handling of the situation, suggesting that the tragedy could potentially have been prevented had proper actions been taken.
The federal government had previously attempted to introduce legislation focused on online harm prevention, with plans for a new online harms bill before the Tumbler Ridge incident occurred.