Queen defends employer confidentiality rules
Tim QueenContent-marketing and business-strategy consultant
Queen defends OpenAI's authority to control confidential information and argues that safety researchers must follow their employer's rules.
“You work for OpenAI. OpenAI decides what confidential information you can share with outside parties.”
Original post
Where this statement fits
Was OpenAI justified in firing three AI safety researchers?
OpenAI says it fired Tomek Korbak, Mikita Balesni and Jasmine Wang for mishandling sensitive information. The researchers dispute that account and say their work followed authorized duties and company norms. Their letter and individual accounts raise questions about the grounds for the dismissals and their effect on outside safety scrutiny.
Source and context
Original post
About this source
Queen argues that safety researchers remain subject to employer confidentiality rules. He gives his own assessment of Korbak's conduct and role.
Before the quotation
Queen replies to Korbak's concern that the firings could be used to reduce work with METR.
After the quotation
Queen says the researchers' job was to make products safe and keep company secrets confidential unless disclosure was legally required.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The conduct under scrutiny is the firings. Queen defends the employer's decision through confidentiality and employment obligations.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- OpenAI, Tomek Korbak
More from this case
Read the full caseOpenAI says it found "a significant breach of trust" and stands by the dismissals
OpenAI
“Last week we parted ways with Jasmine, Mikita, and Tomek after a thorough investigation found they violated clear policies on handling sensitive information. Our internal investigation uncovered a significant breach of trust beyond what’s outlined in the letter they published and we stand by the decision to not continue their employment.”Read statement
Binder says the firings undermine confidence in transparency
“firing a good fraction of their safety researchers afterwards makes me skeptical they can be trusted to be transparent about risks and incidents”Read statement
Piper says OpenAI safety researcher firings look incredibly bad
“OpenAI's firing of safety researchers. That information is in, and it looks incredibly bad.”Read statement
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Queen defends employer confidentiality rules
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/5224-queen-defends-openai-s-authority-to-control-confidential
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Queen defends employer confidentiality rules". First published: 2026-10-08. Last updated: 2026-10-08. https://disputeindex.com/events/5224-queen-defends-openai-s-authority-to-control-confidential