Following the school shooting, Canadian officials will meet with the OpenAI safety team

Canada has summoned senior executives from OpenAI to discuss the company’s safety protocols following revelations that it did not alert police about a ChatGPT account later linked to a mass shooting in British Columbia.

Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon said senior members of OpenAI’s safety team will travel from the United States to Ottawa on Tuesday “to have an explanation of their safety protocols, and when they escalate, and their threshold of escalation to police.”

The move comes after OpenAI confirmed it had banned an account belonging to 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar last year for policy violations but did not report the matter to law enforcement, determining that the activity did not meet its internal threshold for posing an imminent and credible risk of serious physical harm.

Van Rootselaar killed eight people on February 10 in Tumbler Ridge, a town of about 2,400 residents in the Canadian Rockies, before taking her own life. Police said Van Rootselaar was born male, identified as a woman and had begun transitioning six years ago. Authorities also cited previous mental health-related interactions with police.

OpenAI said the account was banned in June 2025 after being flagged by automated systems designed to detect misuse of its models in furtherance of violent activities. While the company considered referring the account to authorities, it concluded the case did not meet its reporting threshold.

In a statement confirming the Ottawa meeting, OpenAI said senior leaders would discuss with Canadian officials “our overall approach to safety, safeguards we have in place, and how we continuously work to strengthen them.” The company described the incident as a “devastating tragedy” and said it was supporting the ongoing investigation.

Solomon said “all options are on the table” when asked what measures Ottawa might consider to protect Canadians from online harm, referencing forthcoming legislation on online privacy and data protection, though he did not provide specifics.

OpenAI added that it contacted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police after the shooting to provide information about Van Rootselaar’s use of ChatGPT. RCMP Staff Sergeant Kris Clark confirmed the company reached out following the incident but declined to share further details.

The case has intensified scrutiny over the responsibilities of technology companies in monitoring and reporting potentially threatening user activity, particularly as AI tools become more widely adopted.