OPENAI WHISTLEBLOWERS ASK SEC TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED RESTRICTIVE NDAS – Employees signed NDAs requiring them to waive their rights to compensation
OpenAI whistleblowers have filed a complaint with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, calling for an investigation over the artificial intelligence company’s allegedly restrictive non-disclosure agreements, according to a letter seen.
The AI company allegedly made employees sign agreements that required them to waive their federal rights to whistleblower compensation, according to the letter.
The whistleblowers requested the SEC to fine OpenAI for each improper agreement made to the extent the agency deemed appropriate.
An SEC spokesperson said in an emailed statement that it does not comment on the existence or nonexistence of a possible whistleblower submission.
The whistleblowers alleged that OpenAI issued overly restrictive employment, severance and non-disclosure agreements to its employees, which could have led to penalties against workers who raised concerns about OpenAI to federal authorities.
The letter also says OpenAI required employees get prior consent from the company if they wanted to disclose information to federal regulators, adding that OpenAI did not create exemptions in the employee non-disparagement clauses for disclosing securities violations to the SEC.