OpenAI Debated Alerting Canadian Police Over School Shooting Suspect
ChatGPT-maker OpenAI has disclosed that it considered alerting Canadian police last year about the activities of an individual who, months later, committed one of the worst school shootings in Canada's history. The company identified the account of Jesse Van Rootselaar in June 2025 through abuse detection efforts, flagging it for "furtherance of violent activities."
Threshold for Law Enforcement Referral
On Friday, OpenAI stated that it evaluated whether to refer the account to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) but determined at the time that the activity did not meet the threshold for referral. The company's policy requires an imminent and credible risk of serious physical harm to others, and it did not identify such planning in this case. This revelation was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
OpenAI banned Van Rootselaar's account in June 2025 for violating its usage policy. After learning of the school shooting, employees proactively contacted the RCMP with information on the individual and their use of ChatGPT. An OpenAI spokesperson expressed, "Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the Tumbler Ridge tragedy. We proactively reached out to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with information on the individual and their use of ChatGPT, and we'll continue to support their investigation."
Details of the Tumbler Ridge Tragedy
The 18-year-old suspect killed eight people in a remote part of British Columbia last week before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. According to the RCMP, Van Rootselaar first killed her mother and stepbrother at the family home before attacking the nearby school. The suspect had a history of mental health-related contacts with police, though the motive for the shooting remains unclear.
The town of Tumbler Ridge, with a population of 2,700, is located in the Canadian Rockies, more than 1,000km (600 miles) north-east of Vancouver, near the provincial border with Alberta. Police confirmed that the victims included a 39-year-old teaching assistant and five students, aged 12 to 13.
Historical Context and Aftermath
This attack marks Canada's deadliest rampage since 2020, when a gunman in Nova Scotia killed 13 people and set fires that resulted in nine additional deaths. The community of Tumbler Ridge is now grappling with grief and seeking unity in the aftermath of the tragedy.
OpenAI's handling of this case raises questions about the balance between user privacy and public safety in the age of artificial intelligence. As investigations continue, the tech company has pledged ongoing support to law enforcement, highlighting the complex role of AI platforms in monitoring and reporting potential threats.
