In a letter addressed to the residents of Tumbler Ridge, Canada, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed being "deeply sorry" that his company did not notify law enforcement about the individual linked to a recent mass shooting. The suspect, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, allegedly killed eight people. According to the Wall Street Journal, OpenAI had flagged and banned Van Rootselaar’s ChatGPT account in June 2025 after it was used to describe scenarios involving gun violence. Company staff debated whether to alert authorities but ultimately chose not to, only reaching out to Canadian officials after the attack had occurred. OpenAI has since announced improvements to its safety protocols, including implementing more flexible criteria for referring accounts to law enforcement and establishing direct contacts with Canadian police agencies.

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Altman’s letter, first published in the local newspaper Tumbler RidgeLines, noted that he had discussed the tragedy with Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka and British Columbia Premier David Eby. They agreed that "a public apology was necessary," but also that "time was needed to respect the community as you grieved." Altman stated, "I am deeply sorry that we did not alert law enforcement to the account that was banned in June. 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." He added that OpenAI’s focus would "continue to be on working with all levels of government to help ensure nothing happens like this again."

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In a post on X, Premier Eby described Altman’s apology as "necessary, and yet grossly insufficient for the devastation done to the families of Tumbler Ridge." Canadian officials have indicated they are exploring new regulations on artificial intelligence but have not yet reached any final decisions.