Government to pursue legal options against OpenAI, retains counsel

VANCOUVER, B.C. — The province announced it has obtained legal counsel to pursue legal action against artificial intelligence company OpenAI in the Tumbler Ridge shooting.

An attack at the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and a nearby residence on February 10 took the lives of nine people, including five students and an educator. 

The assailant, Jesse Van Rootselaar, also died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Additionally, 27 people were wounded in the attack.

B.C. Premier David Eby later stated that “looked like” the 18-year-old had used the OpenAI platform before the attack, and that the company had details that could have prevented the incident had it informed law enforcement.

The government announced in a media call on Tuesday, July 7, it had retained the legal counsel of both CFM Lawyers in Vancouver and California-based Stranch, Jennings and Garvey to explore legal actions.

B.C.’s attorney general, Niki Sharma, said in a statement the government remains “focused on supporting those affected and pursuing accountability.”

“When there are serious concerns that opportunities to prevent harm were missed, we have a responsibility to act,” said Sharma. “We owe that to the victims, their families and everyone else whose life was changed by this tragedy.”

A press release said the government is working alongside both law firms in Canada and the United States, which will “ensure accountability and secure support for community rebuilding efforts.”

Retaining the California-based counsel will allow the province to directly access potential legal remedies in the state where OpenAI has its headquarters.

Several victims’ families, including the family of Maya Gebala, have launched separate legal proceedings against OpenAI in American courts.

“British Columbia has never shied away from taking on powerful corporations when their actions cause harm to people and communities,” said Sharma. “We are taking this step because there are serious concerns about OpenAI’s failure to notify law enforcement after threats were flagged on its platform.”

“We will pursue every available avenue to hold OpenAI and its decision-makers accountable because no company or corporate leader should be beyond scrutiny when public safety is at stake.”