OpenAI CEO apologises over failure to alert police before Canada shooting

OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman has issued a public apology to residents of Tumbler Ridge, Canada, acknowledging the company’s failure to notify authorities about a suspect linked to a deadly mass shooting.

In a letter addressed to the community, Altman said he was “deeply sorry” that OpenAI did not alert law enforcement after banning the ChatGPT account of 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar in June 2025. The account had reportedly been flagged after the user described scenarios involving gun violence.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, OpenAI staff had internally debated whether to inform police but ultimately chose not to act at the time. The company only contacted Canadian authorities after the shooting, in which eight people were killed.

Altman said he had discussed the tragedy with Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka and British Columbia Premier David Eby, adding that all parties agreed a public apology was necessary, while also allowing time for the community to grieve.

“While I know words can never be enough, I believe an apology is necessary to recognize the harm and irreversible loss your community has suffered,” Altman wrote.

Following the incident, OpenAI said it is revising its safety protocols, including adopting more flexible criteria for referring suspicious accounts to authorities and establishing direct communication channels with Canadian law enforcement.

Premier Eby, reacting to the apology on social media, described it as “necessary, and yet grossly insufficient” given the scale of the tragedy and its impact on victims’ families.

Canadian officials have indicated they are reviewing potential regulations around artificial intelligence in the wake of the incident, though no final decisions have been announced.