British Columbia has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, alleging that a mass shooting at a school in Tumbler Ridge could have been prevented if the company had alerted law enforcement about the shooter's use of ChatGPT to plan the attack. The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco federal court on Monday, seeks damages to fund recovery efforts in the province and demands changes to how OpenAI handles conversations that could lead to violence.

Nine people, primarily children, were killed in the February 10 shooting at the school in Tumbler Ridge. The shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, had been flagged by OpenAI's safety team after conversations about gun violence, but the company did not alert police. Van Rootselaar shot her mother and stepbrother at home before killing an educational assistant and five students aged 12 and 13 at her former school. She was 18 years old at the time and died by suicide after the attack.

What Did OpenAI Know and When?

According to the lawsuit, Van Rootselaar's interactions with ChatGPT were first flagged by the company in June 2025. Safety team members recommended contacting police, but Altman and other OpenAI leadership overruled them, according to OpenAI whistleblowers who spoke to the Wall Street Journal. The shooter's account was deactivated, but she was able to create a new account and continue using the platform to plan her attack.

After the Wall Street Journal published details about the case, OpenAI said the account had been flagged by systems designed to identify "misuses of our models in furtherance of violent activities." However, the company claimed the issues did not meet its internal criteria for reporting to law enforcement.

What Are the Key Claims in the Lawsuit?

British Columbia's legal action centers on several critical allegations about OpenAI's response to warning signs:

• Failed Safety Protocol: OpenAI's safety team identified concerning conversations but leadership chose not to notify law enforcement despite internal recommendations to do so.
• Broken Promises: CEO Sam Altman published a letter to the community saying he was "deeply sorry" OpenAI had not contacted law enforcement and promised reforms, but the lawsuit alleges he never followed through despite efforts from British Columbia's attorney general to engage.
• Account Reactivation: After the initial account was deactivated, the shooter was able to create a new account and continue using ChatGPT to plan the attack.
• Financial Impact: The province has been forced to absorb significant costs, including demolition of the school where the shooting occurred, construction of a replacement school, mental health care, and other recovery expenses.

How Is OpenAI Responding to Safety Concerns?

OpenAI has denied the allegations and stated that it trains its models to refuse requests that could "meaningfully enable violence." The company also said it notifies law enforcement when conversations suggest "an imminent and credible risk of harm to others".

"OpenAI remains committed to working collaboratively with government and law enforcement officials, and continuing to advance our ongoing safety work," said Drew Pusateri, a spokesperson for OpenAI.

Drew Pusateri, Spokesperson at OpenAI

This lawsuit is not the first legal action against OpenAI over ChatGPT safety. More than 30 family members of victims and others affected by the Tumbler Ridge attack have already filed lawsuits in California accusing the company of missing an opportunity to prevent the shooting. Additionally, OpenAI has faced multiple cases in US state and federal courts in recent months over claims that ChatGPT facilitated violence, including lawsuits related to a mass shooting at Florida State University last year.

What Does This Mean for AI Safety Regulation?

In June, Florida became the first state to sue OpenAI over safety risks, accusing the company of misrepresenting the safety of its ChatGPT platform. That lawsuit claimed the platform had harmed children by providing information to school shooters, offering guidance on self-harm, and addicting young users.

The British Columbia lawsuit represents an escalation in legal pressure on OpenAI regarding its responsibility to detect and report dangerous content. The case raises fundamental questions about how AI companies should balance user privacy with public safety, and whether internal safety team recommendations should override leadership decisions when potential violence is detected. As more jurisdictions take legal action, the outcomes of these cases could reshape how AI companies handle sensitive conversations and their obligations to law enforcement.