OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has issued a formal apology to the residents of Tumly Ridge, Canada, for the company's failure to alert law enforcement regarding a user linked to a recent mass shooting.
In a letter to the community first published by the local newspaper Tumbler RidgeLines, Altman stated he is "deeply sorry" that the company did not report the account of a suspect to authorities.
According to TechCrunch, police identified 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar as the suspected shooter in an attack that killed eight people. Reports from the Wall Street Journal indicate that OpenAI had flagged and banned Van Rootselaar’s ChatGPT account in June 2025 because the user described scenarios involving gun violence.
Internal discussions at OpenAI reportedly took place regarding whether to notify the police, but the company ultimately decided against it. OpenAI only reached out to Canadian authorities after the shooting had occurred.
Strengthening safety protocols
Altman noted that he had consulted with Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka and British Columbia Premier David Eby before issuing the statement. He said the group agreed a public apology was necessary, though they waited to respect the community's period of mourning.
"I am deeply sorry that we did not alert law enforcement to the account that was banned in June," Altman wrote. "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."
OpenAI says it is now working to improve its safety protocols. This includes establishing direct contact points with Canadian law enforcement and implementing more flexible criteria for determining when user accounts should be referred to the authorities.
Altman added that the company's focus will "continue to be on working with all levels of government to help ensure nothing happens like this again."
However, the apology has not been universally accepted. In a post on X, British Columbia Premier David Eby described the apology as "necessary, and yet grossly insufficient for the devastation done to the families of Tumbler Ridge."
