British Columbia sues OpenAI over Tumbler Ridge shooter chat logs

British Columbia filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in a U.S. federal court on Monday, accusing the company of failing to alert authorities about the chat activity of Jessie Van Rootselaar before the February 2024 Tumbler Ridge school shooting. The province claims that OpenAI’s safety team flagged the account for references to gun violence months before the attack, yet did not notify law‑enforcement agencies in California where the decision was made.

The Tumbler Ridge tragedy left eight people dead, including six children, and left a community in shock. OpenAI had previously apologized for not flagging the shooter’s account to police. In an open letter, CEO Sam Altman expressed deep regret, saying, “I am deeply sorry that we did not alert law enforcement.” Families of the victims have already filed separate lawsuits against the company, citing the same omission.

Attorney General Niki Sharma said the lawsuit raises “important questions about the responsibilities of technology companies when they become aware of credible threats of serious violence.” She added that the province is seeking financial damages to fund the rebuilding of the secondary school that was damaged in the shooting. Sharma also demanded that OpenAI disclose the chat logs, but the company has refused, prompting her to ask, “Why?” The lawsuit is filed in California because the alleged failure to report occurred in that state, according to the attorney general’s office.

If the court rules in favour of British Columbia, the damages could set a precedent for how tech firms handle potentially dangerous content. The case also highlights the need for clearer safeguards and greater transparency from companies that provide large‑language models. OpenAI’s response to the lawsuit is still pending, but the outcome may force the industry to rethink its protocols for monitoring and reporting threats that could lead to violent acts.