July 2024: OpenAI whistleblowers’ complaint to the SEC & our new Chief of Staff
Our thoughts on the OpenAI whistleblowers complaint to the SEC
News broke this week that OpenAI whistleblowers have filed a complaint with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, alleging the company made employees sign non-disclosure agreements that waived their federal rights to whistleblower compensation.
“The news that OpenAI was using illegal NDAs to restrict employees’ ability to speak out is awful, but not surprising,” said TSN Legal Director Jennifer Gibson.
“Everyone is agreed we need to regulate A.I. But regulation is doomed to fail unless it protects those working inside these companies. Insiders in these companies know best what is going wrong, and how to fix it. They need the right to speak out if they’re concerned. Silencing them puts all of us at risk.”
As a reminder: You can find our international Tech Workers Guide to Whistleblowing series on our site here.
The guides do not substitute for legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. However they do provide information on organizations and resources that can provide support. Most importantly, they are a starting point for formulating a plan, a key component of blowing the whistle safely.
Introducing our new Chief of Staff
We’re thrilled to announce the arrival of our new Chief of Staff Kate Miller to the TSN team!
Kate brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership and a passion for social impact. With a career in mission-driven organizations, Kate has developed expertise in strategic planning, resource development, philanthropic partnerships, board development and nonprofit operations. Most recently, she served as Chief of Staff at The Intercept, where she played a pivotal role in the organization’s transition to becoming an independent nonprofit.
Kate will also serve as Interim Executive Director of TSN during the parental leave of TSN Executive Director Delphine Halgand-Mishra.
Learn more about Kate and our other team members here.
Why protecting A.I. whistleblowers is crucial for investigative journalism
At the recent Investigative Reporters and Editors conference, The Signals Network’s Executive Director Delphine Halgand-Mishra, Theranos whistleblower Erika Cheung and AP investigative journalist Garance Burke held a panel on the unique challenges and opportunities in supporting insiders from Big AI companies — particularly A.I. whistleblowers.
The panel highlighted how TSN’s work is more vital than ever as A.I.’s influence grows across all sectors. The three panelists discussed the motivations driving A.I. whistleblowers, the significant risks they face and the critical role of protective measures – areas where our expertise is invaluable.
This session underscored the importance of TSN’s mission in safeguarding whistleblowers, including those who speak out against potential A.I. abuses in this rapidly evolving field.
An audio recording of the panel will be available soon here.
Whistleblower News Roundup
— Tuskegee syphilis study whistleblower Peter Buxton, who provided documents to The Associated Press that led to a public outcry ending the study in 1972, has died at 86, writes Mike Stobbe for the AP.
— The U.S. Justice Department is launching a new program to offer cash rewards for whistleblower tips on criminal financial misconduct, writes David Nakamura for The Washington Post.
— The Federal Aviation Administration received more than 11 times as many Boeing whistleblower reports in the first five months of 2024 compared to all of 2023, writes Allyson Versprille for Bloomberg.
— A Bahamian whistleblower named Sylvens Metayer, who alleged corruption against a top Bahamian police official, was shot during a Facebook livestream from a Hollywood apartment, write Devoun Cetoute and Jacqueline Charles for The Miami Herald.
P.S. … Do you have a friend or colleague who is interested in holding power to account?
Help us grow our mailing list!
They can sign up for our newsletter here.
