The suspect, Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, is accused of killing eight people on February 10 in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, before taking her own life. OpenAI confirmed that Van Rootselaar’s ChatGPT account had been banned last year for violating company policies. However, the firm stated that the account did not meet its internal criteria for escalation to law enforcement.
Minister Summons OpenAI Officials
Evan Solomon, Canada’s federal minister responsible for artificial intelligence, has called OpenAI’s top safety officials to a meeting in Ottawa. Speaking to reporters, Solomon said the session would focus on understanding the company’s safety measures and decision-making processes.
“I’m hoping they will tell us more details about their safety protocols, their escalation thresholds, and how they keep Canadians safe. If they perceive a threat, we want to understand both the technology and the human processes involved,” Solomon said.
A spokesperson for the minister noted that Solomon would not comment to the media after the meeting, which is scheduled for late Tuesday.
Context and Legislative Background
In 2024, Canada’s Liberal government introduced draft legislation aimed at tackling online hate, but the effort stalled amid concerns the rules were too broad. Officials have indicated that a revised bill could be reintroduced this year, and Solomon emphasized that “all options are on the table” when it comes to regulating AI chatbots.
OpenAI stated that Van Rootselaar’s account was flagged by internal systems designed to detect potential misuse of its models in connection with violent activity. The company considered contacting police but determined the account did not pose an imminent and credible threat of serious harm, which is the threshold for escalation.
Van Rootselaar, who police report was born male but identified as a woman and began transitioning six years ago, had a documented history of mental health issues. The killings occurred in a small town of roughly 2,400 residents, raising concerns about community safety and the potential role of AI monitoring in preventing violence.