Canada Demands Answers from OpenAI Over School Shooter Account Suspension Before Shooting in Tumbler Ridge

Canada’s AI Minister has summoned OpenAI representatives following the company’s decision not to alert police after suspending the account of Jesse Van Rootselaar, responsible for one of the country’s deadliest school shootings. On February 10, 2025, the 18-year-old killed eight people in Tumbler Ridge. Reports indicate Van Rootselaar had flagged violent content in his ChatGPT interactions prior to the attack, but OpenAI deemed the activity non-threatening and did not notify authorities. Minister Evan Solomon expressed his concerns about the company’s safety protocols and their threshold for escalation to law enforcement. As Canada considers regulations around AI usage, including how minors interact with such technologies, scrutiny over OpenAI’s actions has intensified. British Columbia’s Premier David Eby noted the distressing implications of OpenAI having prior knowledge of the shooter’s violent behavior, calling it “profoundly disturbing” for the victims’ families. The meeting in Ottawa aims to clarify OpenAI’s safety measures.

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