OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, indicated on Friday that it considered last year reporting to Canadian authorities the activity of a user who, several months later, committed one of the worst school shootings in the country's history.
The San Francisco-based company explained that in June 2025, its abuse detection systems identified Jesse Van Rootselaar's account for "facilitating violent activity." OpenAI then considered forwarding the case to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), but determined that the account's activity did not meet the threshold required for reporting to law enforcement. The account was nevertheless suspended in June 2025 for violating the terms of service.
Last week, the suspected perpetrator, aged 18, killed eight people in a remote area of British Columbia before taking his own life. OpenAI clarifies that the reporting criterion is based on the existence of a credible and imminent risk of serious physical harm. According to the company, no evidence of imminent planning had been identified at the time.
After learning of the shooting, OpenAI says it proactively contacted the RCMP to provide information about the individual and his use of ChatGPT. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the Tumbler Ridge tragedy. We will continue to support the investigation,” a spokesperson said.
An RCMP official, Sergeant Kris Clark, confirmed that police were contacted by OpenAI after the incident. He indicated that a thorough review of the suspect's electronic devices, social media accounts, and online activity was underway, and that digital and physical evidence was being collected and analyzed.
According to police, the young man first killed his mother and brother-in-law at their family home before attacking the nearby school. The victims include a 39-year-old teaching assistant and five students aged 12 to 13. The motive for the attack, which occurred in a small town of 2,700 people located more than 1,000 kilometers northeast of Vancouver, remains under investigation.
