Justice Minister Sharma: “Disregarded Prior Threats… Will Hold Big Tech Accountable” [Vancouver=HanaTV] The government of British Columbia (BC) has filed an…
Justice Minister Sharma: “Disregarded Prior Threats… Will Hold Big Tech Accountable”
[Vancouver=HanaTV] The government of British Columbia (BC) has filed an official lawsuit in a U.S. federal court in California against the global artificial intelligence company OpenAI in connection with the mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School on February 10. The charges stem from the company's failure to notify law enforcement authorities in a timely manner of serious threats of violence detected in advance within its platform.
BC Attorney General Niki Sharma stated in an official statement, “The residents of Tumbler Ridge have suffered unimaginable and devastating losses and have the right to demand a clear investigation and accountability,” adding, “The provincial government has initiated legal proceedings in close cooperation with the SD59 Peace River South Board of Education to ensure justice for the victims’ families, students, the education community, and the local community.”
According to the complaint, the gunman used OpenAI's chatbot service prior to the crime and made specific threats of violence. In particular, it was revealed that in June 2025, several months prior to the crime, OpenAI's internal safety team detected the danger of the conversation and recommended reporting it to the police (RCMP), but the company ignored this recommendation and merely suspended the account. It was found that the gunman subsequently created a new account and continued to use the platform.
Minister Sharma strongly criticized the actions of tech companies, stating, “The behavior of tech companies that neglected to act despite being aware of credible and serious threats of violence in advance can never be overlooked,” and adding, “This tragedy could have been prevented if they had made just one phone call to the police.”
Through this lawsuit, the BC government sought to hold OpenAI liable for gross negligence and claimed full damages covering the reconstruction costs of damaged schools, support for community psychological treatment, and emergency recovery expenses. In addition, it strongly demanded system improvements to mandate reporting to law enforcement authorities when signs of risk are detected on the platform.
Furthermore, Minister Sharma sent a letter to Canadian federal ministers urging the prompt amendment of the Criminal Code of Canada to hold companies and developers legally accountable for crimes and risks caused by AI technology.
Minister Sharma emphasized, “Just as in past lawsuits against tobacco and opioid manufacturers, we will not allow residents to bear the full brunt of the damage caused by the irresponsible actions of giant corporations,” adding that “laws and safety nets must evolve in step with technological advancements.”
