British Columbia has filed a lawsuit in California against artificial intelligence company OpenAI over the February mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge.
Attorney General Niki Sharma said on Monday the province is suing the maker of ChatGPT for failing to notify law enforcement of threats made on the platform ahead of the shooting that left eight dead.
She said the province is working closely with victims of the shooting and their families, who have filed their own lawsuits against the tech giant.
“Together, we are seeking accountability from OpenAI and its decision-makers, and pursuing support for community rebuilding efforts, including the construction of a new Tumbler Ridge school facility,” said Sharma.
The provincial and federal government announced earlier this year they would jointly fund the demolition of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, and the construction of a new school at a different site.
B.C. and Canada have each pledged to pitch in $100 million toward the project and other infrastructure in the community.
Following a report in the Wall Street Journal, OpenAI confirmed it had banned the shooter’s ChatpGPT account in June 2025. It said several employees raised concerns about her messages with the popular chatbot, but the company decided not to report the account to law enforcement.
OpenAI said it learned after the shooting that she had created a second account after the first was banned.
Sharma said the case highlights the need for national safeguards for artificial intelligence technologies and online platforms.
She said she has written to federal Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Minister Evan Solomon, Justice Minister Sean Fraser, and Canadian Culture and Identity Minister Marc Miller asking for changes to the Criminal Code.
She said the federal government’s proposed Safe Social Media Act doesn’t go far enough to address online harms, and may not be able to keep pace with changing new technologies.
Sharma said AI platforms should be required to prove they are safe for young people. She is also calling for age restrictions on use of the platforms, and enforceable disclosure requirements for companies when they are aware of credible threats of violence on their platforms.
OpenAI provided a brief statement to Vista News that avoided commenting on any ongoing lawsuits.
“What happened in Tumbler Ridge was an unspeakable tragedy, and our thoughts remain with the victims, their families, and the entire community. OpenAI remains committed to working collaboratively with government and law enforcement officials, and continuing to advance our ongoing safety work,” it said.
