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British Columbia plans lawsuit against OpenAI over school shooter’s ChatGPT prompt

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • British Columbia is preparing to sue OpenAI, alleging the company failed to report violent ChatGPT activity by a school shooter.
  • The shooter's account was banned months before the attack, but OpenAI did not notify law enforcement.
  • The province aims to hold OpenAI accountable and use lawsuit funds for community rebuilding, including a new school.

British Columbia is gearing up to sue OpenAI, asserting the tech giant failed to notify law enforcement about violent prompts made on its ChatGPT platform by the individual who carried out a mass shooting in the province. The perpetrator, Jesse Van Rootselaar, had their account banned in June 2025, several months before the 18-year-old fatally shot eight people at their home and a local school in Tumbler Ridge.

British Columbia has never shied away from taking on powerful corporations when their actions cause harm to people and communities.

— Niki SharmaProvincial Attorney General Niki Sharma stating the province's resolve to sue OpenAI.

Provincial Attorney General Niki Sharma stated that British Columbia intends to "hold OpenAI and its decision-makers accountable for their failure to notify law enforcement." She emphasized the province's readiness to challenge powerful corporations when their actions harm communities. Sharma acknowledged the legal process will be lengthy but indicated that any funds recovered would support the community's recovery, including the construction of a new school.

This legal action follows lawsuits already filed by Canadian families impacted by the shooting in a California court. British Columbia is coordinating its case with these families and has retained legal counsel in both Canada and California. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had previously apologized in April for not alerting authorities about the banned account, stating, "I believe an apology is necessary to recognize the harm and irreversible loss your community has suffered."

hold OpenAI and its decision-makers accountable for their failure to notify law enforcement of the violent prompts made on its ChatGPT platform by the perpetrator prior to the tragedy in Tumbler Ridge.

— Niki SharmaProvincial Attorney General Niki Sharma detailing the province's legal grounds against OpenAI.

OpenAI has claimed it did not report Van Rootselaar's account at the time of suspension due to a lack of evidence of an imminent attack. However, the company also indicated that under updated security guidelines, the account would have been reported. Lawyers for the families allege OpenAI remained silent because reporting one case might necessitate reporting thousands, and that the company sometimes advises users on circumventing suspension periods for dangerous behavior.

I believe an apology is necessary to recognize the harm and irreversible loss your community has suffered.

— Sam AltmanOpenAI CEO Sam Altman's apology to the residents of Tumbler Ridge.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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