Sam Altman · Canada · OpenAI · United Kingdom · ChatGPT · NPR Technology
New suits claim OpenAI execs put image ahead of safety in Canadian mass shooting
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Community members attend a vigil on Feb. 13 to honor the victims of one of Canada's deadliest mass shootings, in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia.
Key facts
- Eight months before the shooting, in June 2025, OpenAI's automated systems flagged Van Rootselaar's ChatGPT account for "gun violence activity and planning," according to one of the April lawsuits
- Community members attend a vigil on Feb. 13 to honor the victims of one of Canada's deadliest mass shootings, in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia
- Tim Marple, who worked on OpenAI's investigations team in 2024, said incidents like Tumbler Ridge expose the risks of letting AI companies self-regulate, rather than requiring them to report violent
- The alleged shooter, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, killed five students and a teacher before killing herself, according to authorities
Summary
New lawsuits brought against OpenAI on Wednesday over a school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, accuse the ChatGPT maker's executives of putting its public image ahead of public safety. Thirty complaints were filed against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, in a San Francisco federal court by people present at the shooting, including students, teachers and a principal. "What these complaints show is the larger impact and how many people's lives were destroyed, all based on decisions made by people at OpenAI," said Jay Edelson, the lead attorney representing the Tumbler Ridge victims and their families.