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Federal AI minister raises concerns about OpenAI safety protocols after Tumbler Ridge shooting
Summary
Canada's minister of artificial intelligence said he has raised concerns with OpenAI after reports that a ChatGPT account linked to the Tumbler Ridge shooter was flagged internally but not referred to police; OpenAI says it banned the account and contacted RCMP after the attack.
Content
Canada's minister of artificial intelligence and digital innovation has said he is raising concerns with OpenAI and other platforms about their safety and escalation practices. His remarks followed reporting that a ChatGPT account connected to the suspect in a recent Tumbler Ridge mass shooting had been flagged inside the company but was not initially reported to police. The minister said the federal government is reviewing a suite of measures to protect Canadians, particularly children. Provincial officials have also discussed steps to preserve digital evidence.
Key facts:
- The minister stated he was "deeply disturbed" by reports that concerning online activity was not reported to law enforcement in a timely manner.
- OpenAI confirmed it banned the account tied to the suspect and said automated tools and human review identified potential misuse; it said activity in June 2025 did not meet its threshold for referral but that it later reached out to RCMP after the shooting.
- An RCMP spokesperson told reporters the platform contacted police after the attack and that the account had initially been flagged internally.
- B.C. Premier David Eby said police are pursuing preservation orders for any potential evidence held by digital service companies.
- The Wall Street Journal first reported the story about the ChatGPT account.
Summary:
Federal officials have asked AI companies for explanations while the government reviews measures related to platform safety and escalation practices. OpenAI and police give differing timelines about when the account was referred, and authorities are pursuing preservation orders for digital evidence. Undetermined at this time.
