OpenAI, the company that developed ChatGPT, suspended the account of Jesse Van Rootselaar, the woman who executed one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canada's history, after detecting she had used it to describe scenarios involving gun violence over the course of several days, the company told The Wall Street Journal on Saturday.
According to the report, OpenAI considered alerting law enforcement about her interactions with its ChatGPT chatbot, but ultimately decided not to after an internal debate with about a dozen staffers.
Van Rootselaar, who killed eight people before taking her own life in Tumbler Ridge, Canada, was banned from the platform after her interactions with the chatbot, but it was determined that her activity didn’t meet the criteria for reporting to law enforcement.
To do so, the company would have needed to detect a credible and imminent risk of serious physical harm to others, an OpenAI spokesperson told The WSJ.
According to OpenAI’s official usage policies, people can’t use their systems in a way that could compromise someone’s right to safety and security, with a specific paragraph banning actions that could lead to terrorism or violence, including hate-based violence, as well as weapons development, procurement, or use, including conventional weapons.
After Van Rootselaar was identified as the shooter, the company contacted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and said that it was supporting the investigation. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the Tumbler Ridge tragedy,” the company said in a statement.
Canadian mass shooter's violent digital footprint
According to a report by The Guardian, Van Rootselaar’s digital footprint included using the gaming platform Roblox to create “a shooting simulator,” as well as Kiwi Farms, an online forum known for hosting discussions and organized harassment targeting various individuals and communities.
The simulator was set in a virtual shopping mall, where users could shoot characters and other players with weapons scattered around, 404 Media reported.
“We have removed the user account connected to this horrifying incident, as well as any content associated with the suspect. We are committed to fully supporting law enforcement in their investigation,” Roblox said in a statement to The Guardian.
The WSJ report also mentioned that Van Rootselaar's social media activities showed interest in using illicit drugs.