KEY POINTS
- OpenAI internal systems identified and banned Jesse Van Rootselaar’s account in June 2025 for content promoting violent activities.
- The tech firm chose not to alert the RCMP at the time, determining the threats did not meet the “imminent and credible” threshold.
- B.C. Premier David Eby described the report as “profoundly disturbing” as federal officials review AI safety protocols.
OpenAI has confirmed that its internal monitoring systems flagged the perpetrator of the Tumbler Ridge school shooting months before the tragedy occurred. The company identified an account belonging to Jesse Van Rootselaar in June 2025. Automated tools and human reviewers discovered the account was being used to further violent activities. While OpenAI banned the user seven months prior to the attack, it did not notify law enforcement.
The San Francisco-based company stated that employees debated whether to refer the suspicious activity to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. However, leadership ultimately decided the interactions did not meet the specific criteria for a police referral. OpenAI’s current policy requires evidence of an imminent and credible risk of serious physical harm to trigger a report. The firm argued that over-enforcing these rules could lead to unnecessary and distressing police interventions for users.
The revelation has sparked intense backlash from Canadian provincial and federal leaders. British Columbia Premier David Eby released a statement calling the intelligence failure “profoundly disturbing” for the victims’ families. Eby emphasized that the government would use all available powers to ensure digital companies cooperate with the ongoing mass shooting investigation. Federal AI ministers are also reviewing whether existing safety measures for large-scale AI models are sufficient to protect the public.
Following the February 10 massacre, which claimed the lives of eight people, OpenAI proactively contacted the RCMP with the archived data. The company is now providing information on Van Rootselaar’s specific queries and interactions with ChatGPT to assist investigators. This cooperation comes as police methodically process digital evidence from the shooter’s electronic devices and online profiles. Other platforms, including Roblox and YouTube, have also removed content linked to the perpetrator.
The tragedy in Tumbler Ridge has become one of the deadliest school shootings in Canadian history. Investigators have revealed that Van Rootselaar had a history of mental health struggles and prior contact with authorities. The community continues to grieve as the investigation shifts toward the responsibilities of tech giants in preventing real-world violence. OpenAI says it is currently reviewing its internal criteria for law enforcement referrals to prevent similar oversights in the future.
