British Columbia sues OpenAI, saying a missed alert could have prevented a school shooting

What the lawsuit says

British Columbia is taking OpenAI to court in California, arguing ChatGPT logs contained enough red flags to contact police and potentially stop a Feb. 10 attack. The claim focuses on OpenAI staff deciding not to alert Canadian authorities about troubling activity tied to teenager Jesse Van Rootselaar.

The filing states that Van Rootselaar is alleged to have murdered five students and one teacher at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in northern BC; it further alleges she killed her mother and her half-brother and then died by suicide. Officials characterize the attack as among the worst shootings in Canada, and say she used ChatGPT beforehand.

What OpenAI knew and did not do

The complaint alleges that in 2025 OpenAI identified and deactivated one of Van Rootselaar's accounts for worrisome conduct, yet no alert was sent to police. The company later revealed that she maintained a second account that went unnoticed and remained active.

According to the filing, the province aims to hold the company "accountable for designing a dangerous product, distributing it to every home with internet access, ignoring the warnings of their own safety team, refusing to notify authorities when they knew the shooter was planning gun violence, inviting the shooter back onto the platform after deactivating the shooter's account, and choosing corporate self-interest over the lives of children."

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How OpenAI and officials are responding

In an emailed statement, an OpenAI spokesperson said, "What happened in Tumbler Ridge was an unspeakable tragedy, and our thoughts remain with the victims, their families, and the entire community." The company said it remains dedicated to partnering with government and law enforcement agencies "and continuing to advance our ongoing safety work."

In February, OpenAI told Canadian legislators that its updated rules mean police would have been notified about Van Rootselaar. In April, Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman apologized in a letter addressed to the town of Tumbler Ridge for the company's failure to notify law enforcement. The province's case follows a series of family-brought lawsuits targeting the company. Attorney General Niki Sharma told reporters that BC's claim proceeds on a separate, parallel track.

Sharma added, "I want to be clear: I have not read the interactions between the shooter and ChatGPT. We have asked OpenAI to disclose these chats. They have refused. We should all be asking them why."

What the province wants and why it matters

According to the filing, BC is asking for a jury to hear the case and for monetary relief covering the harms suffered, past and continuing, along with "injunctive relief to ensure that this tragedy does not happen again." It adds, "One telephone call to the RCMP could have prevented the tragedy."

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