{"id":353,"date":"2026-06-08T20:36:48","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T20:36:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northcarolinamovingjournal.com\/?p=353"},"modified":"2026-06-08T20:36:48","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T20:36:48","slug":"nc-members-of-congress-call-on-google-openai-to-address-chatbot-involvement-in-mass-shootings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northcarolinamovingjournal.com\/?p=353","title":{"rendered":"NC members of Congress call on Google, OpenAI to address chatbot involvement in mass shootings"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.), Rep. Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), and dozens of their Democratic colleagues called on top AI companies to address interactions with chatbots which they said encouraged users who asked about \u201ccarrying out criminal acts,\u201d suicide, and other harmful actions.<\/p>\n

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, addressed to safety officials at OpenAI and Google DeepMind from the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, cited two instances in which mass shooters acquired \u201ctactical advice\u201d by using chatbots.<\/p>\n

In one such case, a gunman at Florida State University who allegedly received information from ChatGPT about \u201coperation of a rifle\u201d and \u201cammunition choice,\u201d among other answers, prior to an attack that killed two and wounded six last year.<\/p>\n

Lawmakers also pointed to incidents in which AI chatbots encouraged violent and suicidal behavior, including the death of Jonathan Gavalas, a Floridian who died by suicide after Gemini allegedly told him, \u201cThe true act of mercy is to let Jonathan Gavalas die.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn these interactions, chatbots reinforced, rather than dissuaded, real-world harm, including mass shootings, wrongful deaths, and suicide,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cThe language generated by these chatbots has undoubtably [sic] led to serious harm. By providing information and strategies to shooters, they have contributed to preventable loss of life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both incidents have led to litigation against the AI companies providing the chatbots in question. The state of Florida filed suit against OpenAI on June 1 over its role in providing the Florida State shooter with information that enabled the attack, and Gavalas\u2019s family is suing Google for a wrongful death claim.<\/p>\n

OpenAI and Google DeepMind did not respond to requests for comment on the letter.<\/p>\n

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