British columbia sues OpenAI over inaction in school shooting case

On September 22, 2026, British Columbia officially filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in California, accusing the company of failing to act in a deadly school shooting. The incident occurred in Tumbler Ridge on February 10, 2026, when Jesse Van Rootselaar killed five students, one teacher, his mother, and his half-brother before taking his own life. Investigations revealed Van Rootselaar had used ChatGPT before the attack. OpenAI flagged his account in 2025 but did not alert authorities. OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, apologized in April 2026 for the company’s failure to notify law enforcement. The lawsuit raises questions about tech companies’ responsibility in preventing violence. The province has urged changes to Canada’s Criminal Code to hold AI developers accountable. OpenAI has not yet addressed concerns from survivors and the community.