OTTAWA — Canada has summoned senior executives from OpenAI to explain why the company failed to alert authorities about suspicious activity linked to a teenager who later carried out one of the country’s deadliest mass shootings. 

The meeting, scheduled in Ottawa this week, comes after revelations that OpenAI flagged but did not report a ChatGPT account tied to Jesse Van Rootselaar, the 18-year-old suspect in the February 10 attack at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia.

Investigators said Van Rootselaar killed his mother, brother, and six people at the school before dying by suicide. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed the identities of the victims and described the incident as among the worst mass shootings in Canadian history.

OpenAI acknowledged that its internal systems detected Van Rootselaar’s account in June 2025 for potential misuse related to violent activity. The account was banned, but the company did not inform Canadian police. 

“That decision was very disturbing,” Canada’s Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon said, adding that the government expects technology firms to cooperate fully with law enforcement when public safety is at risk.

The tragedy has reignited debate over the responsibilities of AI companies in monitoring and reporting dangerous behavior online. Critics argue that platforms must balance privacy concerns with proactive measures to prevent violence. Supporters of stricter oversight say the Tumbler Ridge case demonstrates the urgent need for clearer reporting protocols.

A growing memorial outside the school has drawn hundreds of residents, with candles and flowers placed in honor of the victims. Community leaders have called for healing and accountability, while national officials continue to press OpenAI for answers.

The outcome of the Ottawa meeting could shape future regulations on AI safety and reporting obligations in Canada, as the government seeks to ensure that similar lapses do not occur again.