Faruqi calls OpenAI an "out-of-control" tech corporation, urges an AI data centre moratorium

Acting Leader of the Australian Greens and Senator for New South Wales

“This breach by a foreign AI company on an Australian government database is deeply alarming and brings home the risks that these out-of-control tech corporations pose.”
Open source (opens in a new tab)OpenAI hacked Medicare portal, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says · ABC News (Australia)Paragraphs quoting Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles and Acting Greens leader Mehreen Faruqi's reactions to the breach.

Source and context

Reporting

OpenAI hacked Medicare portal, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says (opens in a new tab) · ABC News (Australia)Paragraphs quoting Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles and Acting Greens leader Mehreen Faruqi's reactions to the breach.

About this source

ABC News's detailed report on Albanese's disclosure, including a timeline of who knew what and when, OpenAI's full statement, and reactions from Marles, Taylor and Faruqi.

Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Before the quotation

Faruqi called the incident "disturbing" and called for a moratorium on AI data centres in Australia until further regulations were in place.

After the quotation

Her statement came alongside broader Greens criticism of insufficient AI regulation in Australia.

How this statement is classified

Condemned

Case context: Should OpenAI face legal consequences for its AI agent's breach of Australian government systems and its delayed disclosure?

The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.

Why this label?

Faruqi directly condemns OpenAI's conduct, characterizing the company as an out-of-control corporation whose access to government systems poses a serious risk, going beyond a factual account to an explicit evaluation of the company's behavior.

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Mehdi Hasan

“I don't understand. Why is no one being prosecuted for this? Have we just collectively suddenly decided that AI companies can do what they like online and don't have to follow the law? Wouldn't we be prosecuted if we 'infiltrated' a government website??”
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Lizzie O'Shea

“There have to be guardrails and safety measures in place which are way ahead of the capability which is being developed.”
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David Pocock

“There is also a big question here around why we aren't holding these big tech companies liable for this kind of data breach. If it was an Australian who hacked the system they'd likely be heading for jail, yet there's no accountability for AI companies developing this technology.”
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