OpenAI is under scrutiny following allegations that it illegally prevented employees from whistleblowing, a practice not uncommon in Silicon Valley. According to a report by the Washington Post, OpenAI employees filed a complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), accusing the company of making them sign non-disclosure agreements that violated their whistleblower rights.
Allegations Against OpenAI
The complaint, detailed in a seven-page letter to the SEC, claims that OpenAI required employees to sign agreements waiving their federal rights to whistleblower compensation. Additionally, these agreements allegedly mandated that employees seek permission from the company before disclosing information to federal authorities, a direct violation of federal law. The agreements also threatened legal action against employees who reported violations, ignoring their right to report such information to the government.
“Our whistleblower policy protects employees’ rights to make protected disclosures. Additionally, we believe rigorous debate about this technology is essential and have already made important changes to our departure process to remove nondisparagement terms,” OpenAI spokesperson Hannah Wong stated in response to the allegations.
Reasons Behind the Allegations
The whistleblowers allege that the release of OpenAI’s latest AI model for ChatGPT was rushed, compromising safety protocols. Employees expressed concerns that the company failed to adhere to its own security testing protocols, potentially allowing the AI to assist in creating bioweapons or aiding hackers in developing new cyberattacks.
Broader Context of Whistleblower Suppression in Silicon Valley
The issue of companies hindering whistleblowers is not unique to OpenAI. Chris Baker, a San Francisco lawyer, noted that battling against such practices in Silicon Valley has been a longstanding challenge. Baker previously secured a $27 million settlement for Google employees who faced similar allegations. Other tech giants, like Facebook, have also been accused of blocking whistleblowers, as evidenced by the high-profile case of whistleblower Frances Haugen.
OpenAI’s Response and Future Steps
In May, OpenAI formed a Safety and Security Committee, led by board members including CEO Sam Altman, as the company begins training its next AI model. This move comes amid growing safety concerns over OpenAI’s chatbots and their generative AI capabilities.
The SEC’s whistleblower program, established following the 2008 financial crisis, aims to increase transparency and protect the economy. The recent allegations against OpenAI highlight the ongoing struggle for transparency and whistleblower protection within the tech industry.
OpenAI’s response to these allegations and the actions of the SEC will be closely watched as the tech industry grapples with the balance between innovation and ethical responsibility.
