OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has issued a public apology for the company's failure to alert law enforcement about the online activities of an individual who went on to kill eight people in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. In a letter posted on Friday, Altman expressed his deepest condolences to the community and acknowledged the irreversible harm caused.
Details of the Apology
In the letter, dated Thursday and shared on B.C. Premier David Eby’s social media and local news site Tumbler RidgeLines, Altman stated: “I am deeply sorry that we did not alert law enforcement to the account that was banned in June. While I know words can never be enough, I believe an apology is necessary to recognize the harm and irreversible loss your community has suffered.”
The Tragic Events
On February 10, police allege that 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar killed her mother, Jennifer Jacobs (39), and stepbrother Emmett Jacobs (11) at their home in northern British Columbia. She then proceeded to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where she opened fire, killing five children and an educator before taking her own life. An additional 25 people were injured in the attack.
OpenAI's Prior Knowledge
Following the shootings, OpenAI disclosed that it had identified Van Rootselaar’s account in June of the previous year through abuse detection efforts aimed at preventing “furtherance of violent activities.” The San Francisco-based company considered referring the account to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police but concluded that the activity did not meet the threshold for referral. Instead, OpenAI banned the account for violating its usage policy.
Premier Eby had previously stated that it “looks like” OpenAI had an opportunity to prevent the mass shooting. In his letter, Altman noted that he had spoken with Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka and Eby, who conveyed the community’s “anger, sadness and concern.” They agreed that a public apology was warranted but that time was needed for grieving.
Altman's Commitment
Altman reaffirmed his commitment to preventing similar tragedies: “Going forward, our focus will continue to be on working with all levels of government to help ensure something like this never happens again.” He also expressed personal anguish, stating, “No one should ever have to endure a tragedy like this. I cannot imagine anything worse in this world than losing a child. My heart remains with the victims.”
Eby responded on social media, calling the apology “necessary, and yet grossly insufficient for the devastation done to the families of Tumbler Ridge.”
