The Canadian province of British Columbia has initiated a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that the company failed to notify law enforcement about threats made on its ChatGPT platform prior to a school shooting in Tumbler Ridge. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in San Francisco on Monday and names OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, as defendants.
The British Columbia government is seeking financial compensation from OpenAI to address past and future expenses related to emergency response and community recovery efforts. Additionally, the lawsuit requests a court order requiring OpenAI to improve its processes for identifying and managing user conversations that may indicate threats of violence.
The shooting occurred on February 10, 2026, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals, including five children and an educator. The shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, had previously been flagged by ChatGPT’s safety team for discussions about gun violence but was not reported to law enforcement.
British Columbia Attorney General Niki Sharma stated that residents of Tumbler Ridge deserve answers and accountability. She emphasized that the lawsuit raises important questions regarding the responsibilities of technology companies when they become aware of credible threats of violence.
Sharma noted, "This case highlights the urgent need for strong national safeguards for artificial intelligence technologies and online platforms." In April, Altman expressed regret in a letter to the community for OpenAI's failure to contact law enforcement and promised reforms, but the lawsuit claims he did not follow through despite attempts by the attorney general to engage with him.
This lawsuit follows over 30 other lawsuits filed in the same California federal court by victims' families, survivors, and others impacted by the shooting, accusing OpenAI of negligence for not intervening and alerting authorities.