Tumbler Ridge suspect's ChatGPT account banned before shooting
AI Summary
In June 2025, OpenAI banned a ChatGPT account belonging to Jesse Van Rootselaar, the suspect in the February 12, 2026, mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, where eight people were killed and 27 injured. OpenAI's abuse detection identified the account as potentially furthering violence, but the company did not alert authorities, deeming the usage below the threshold of a credible or imminent threat. Following the shooting, OpenAI contacted Canadian police with information about Van Rootselaar, who died by suicide at the school. The Wall Street Journal reported internal debate at OpenAI regarding alerting authorities prior to the event. OpenAI maintains its policy of only alerting authorities in cases of imminent risk to avoid unintended harm, and is reviewing the incident for improvements to its referral criteria.
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