ChatGPT falsely claims Norwegian man killed his sons, he takes legal action against Sam Altman's OpenAI
ByMahipal Singh Chouhan
Mar 22, 2025 02:24 PM IST
A Norwegian man filed a complaint after ChatGPT falsely claimed he killed his sons.
A Norwegian man, Arve Hjalmar Holmen, has lodged a complaint after ChatGPT falsely claimed he had killed his two sons and been sentenced to 21 years in prison. According to a report by the BBC, Holmen has contacted the Norwegian Data Protection Authority, demanding OpenAI, the chatbot’s developer, be fined for the misinformation.
ChatGPT falsely accused a Norwegian man of murder, sparking a legal complaint. (REUTERS)
ChatGPT falsely accused a Norwegian man of murder, sparking a legal complaint. (REUTERS)
(Also read: Tired man shares 'most embarrassing' ChatGPT hack for cleaning, people think it's brilliant)
This incident is the latest example of AI “hallucinations,” where artificial intelligence fabricates details and presents them as facts. Holmen says the incorrect information has caused him serious harm.
“People think there’s no smoke without fire”
Holmen discovered the false claims after asking ChatGPT, “Who is Arve Hjalmar Holmen?” The chatbot responded with a fabricated account, stating:
"Arve Hjalmar Holmen is a Norwegian individual who gained attention due to a tragic event. He was the father of two young boys, aged 7 and 10, who were tragically found dead in a pond near their home in Trondheim, Norway, in December 2020.”
Although the chatbot correctly identified the age gap between his children, Holmen insists the claims are entirely false.
"Some think that there is no smoke without fire - the fact that someone could read this output and believe it is true is what scares me the most," he told the BBC.
OpenAI responds
OpenAI has acknowledged the complaint, stating that the error was generated by an older version of ChatGPT and that improvements have since been made.
"We continue to research new ways to improve the accuracy of our models and reduce hallucinations," OpenAI said. "While we're still reviewing this complaint, it relates to a version of ChatGPT which has since been enhanced with online search capabilities that improve accuracy."
Digital rights group demands action
The digital rights organisation Noyb, which is backing Holmen’s complaint, argues that ChatGPT’s response is defamatory and violates European data protection laws concerning personal data accuracy.
Noyb’s complaint states: “Holmen has never been accused nor convicted of any crime and is a conscientious citizen.”
While ChatGPT carries a disclaimer—"ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info."—Noyb believes this is insufficient.
(Also read: Can AI feel stressed? Researchers say ChatGPT shows ‘anxiety’ when talking about trauma)
"You can't just spread false information and in the end add a small disclaimer saying that everything you said may just not be true," said Noyb lawyer Joakim Söderberg.
A growing concern
AI-generated misinformation has become a major concern. Earlier this year, Apple suspended its Apple Intelligence news summary tool in the UK after it fabricated false headlines. Google's AI Gemini also made headlines when it suggested using glue to stick cheese on pizza and claimed geologists recommend eating a rock daily.
Share this article
Misinformation
Chatgpt
NorwayNorway
Sam Altman
Openai
Get Latest Updates on Trending News Viral News, Video, Photos and Weather Updates of India and around the world
See More
Get Latest Updates on Trending News Viral News, Video, Photos and Weather Updates of India and around the world