Two federal ministers signalled today that Ottawa could act to improve online safety related to artificial intelligence as questions mount about OpenAI’s decision not to warn police about Tumbler Ridge shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar.

The company’s handling of the issue has been under scrutiny since the Wall Street Journal reported that Van Rootselaar’s OpenAI account was shut down over troubling posts, including some that cited scenarios of gun violence.

The shooter was banned by OpenAI from its ChatGPT platform at least seven months ago, but OpenAI did not inform police about her problematic behaviour until after the Feb. 10 killings in Tumbler Ridge, B.C.

Following a meeting Tuesday with OpenAI representatives, Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon said federal officials expressed their “disappointment” to the company about its decision not to warn law enforcement.

Solomon said today all options for regulating online tools like chatbots are on the table.

Justice Minister Sean Fraser said the government wants to do more to protect Canadians, and the meeting with OpenAI was aimed at identifying steps the company and the government might take.

More to come…