Canada's Minister of Artificial Intelligence, Evan Solomon, is raising concerns with OpenAI regarding their safety protocols following the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B. C.. The shooting, which occurred on February 10, 2026, claimed the lives of eight people, including five children and an education assistant at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. The perpetrator, Jesse Van Rootselaar, also died by suicide.
OpenAI confirmed that it had banned Van Rootselaar's account in June 2025 after its systems detected activity related to "misuses of our models in furtherance of violent activities". However, the company stated that the activity "did not meet its threshold for referring the case to law enforcement" because it did not involve an "imminent and credible risk or planning of serious physical harm to others". The story was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Minister Solomon expressed his concern in a statement, saying he was "deeply disturbed" that the concerning online activity was not reported to law enforcement in a timely manner. "Canadians expect online platforms, including OpenAI, to have robust safety protocols and escalation practices in place to protect online safety and ensure law enforcement are warned about potential violence," Solomon stated. He has indicated that the federal government will be engaging with OpenAI and other AI platforms to address these concerns. B. C. Premier David Eby called the reports "profoundly disturbing".
The RCMP has confirmed that OpenAI reached out to them after the shooting and that they are thoroughly reviewing digital and physical evidence as part of their ongoing investigation. This incident has sparked a national conversation about the ethical responsibilities of AI companies and the need for stronger regulations to prevent future tragedies.
