Canada’s BC sues OpenAI over ChatGPT role in Tumbler Ridge school shooting
Summary
The Canadian province of British Columbia has sued OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, because they did not warn police about threats made on ChatGPT before a 2026 school shooting in Tumbler Ridge. The lawsuit seeks money to cover emergency and recovery costs and wants the court to require OpenAI to improve how it handles violent threats online.Key Facts
- British Columbia filed the lawsuit in federal court in San Francisco.
- The lawsuit names OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman as defendants.
- The lawsuit demands financial compensation for emergency response and community recovery.
- The shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, killed eight people in February 2026, including family members and school victims, before dying by suicide.
- ChatGPT's safety team had flagged the shooter's violent conversations but did not notify police.
- British Columbia's Attorney General says tech companies must be responsible when they see credible threats of violence.
- Sam Altman apologized publicly but has not made the promised reforms.
- This lawsuit follows more than 30 others filed against OpenAI in the same court by people affected by the shooting.
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