British Columbia Premier David Eby is calling for federal rules requiring technology companies to report online conversations about planned violence, following an FBI complaint that describes months of discussions involving the Tumbler Ridge shooter and a man charged in the United States with conspiracy to murder.

The complaint against James Bryant says he and Jesse Van Rootselaar discussed tactics, locations and weapons for the deadly attack through Discord before trying to livestream the murders on Twitch. The B.C. government is suing artificial intelligence firm OpenAI over its alleged role in helping Van Rootselaar plan the Feb. 10 attack, which killed eight people.

Eby spoke Wednesday at an unrelated B.C. election campaign news conference in Surrey, in his role as premier. He said government lawyers would examine the Bryant complaint and the legal duties of technology firms. Companies must face obligations to report wrongdoing, he said, “because they will not and have not done the right thing.”

“While the police investigation continues, and I’m glad it’s holding people accountable who were involved, and while that continues, we need Ottawa to step up and impose minimum regulation,” Eby said. He called for rules covering social media and artificial intelligence companies, adding: “And yes, not just on OpenAI. But on all of the social media companies, on all the AI companies, that if you become aware of a conversation between users about causing harm, violence against children or anybody, that you should have an obligation to report that to police, just like anybody who overheard a conversation applauding violence in their community would naturally call 911.”

Mike Harrington, the FBI’s special agent in charge in Seattle, said at a news conference Tuesday that Van Rootselaar met Bryant after they were “randomly matched” on Omegle about three years ago. Van Rootselaar was about 15 and Bryant about 27 at the time. Omegle, a messaging app that connected users with strangers, was shut down not long afterward amid lawsuits concerning child safety.

Acting U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd said Tuesday in Seattle that Discord provided the chats to the FBI after the bureau obtained subpoenas and search warrants. Discord did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Megan Kay, Twitch’s senior communications manager, said the company is co-operating with law enforcement but declined to provide details.

Federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said Wednesday in Ottawa that the information in the FBI complaint was “rather outrageous and seriously worrisome.” He said it raised broader concerns about social media and online collaboration, which he said the government is trying to address through Bill C-34, proposed online safety legislation.

Asked whether Discord should fall under the proposed law, Anandasangaree said it would create an independent body to make decisions about which services are covered. The report was written by The Canadian Press, with files from Ashley Joannou in Vancouver and David Baxter in Ottawa. It was first published Oct. 7, 2026, by Nono Shen of The Canadian Press.

Based on reporting by CTV News Edmonton.