A 38-year-old man from Ontario, facing a rare charge under Canada’s state secrets law for disclosing sensitive information related to nuclear power plant vulnerabilities in a YouTube video, has been deemed not criminally responsible due to mental health issues. James Alexander Mousaly, an employee of Ontario Power Generation, livestreamed the information while experiencing bipolar disorder and psychosis, as confirmed by a judge in Oshawa, Ontario. The video, which was removed by family members within less than a day, portrayed Mousaly expressing delusional beliefs of being a prophet and a whistleblower on workplace safety concerns.
During the 22-minute video, Mousaly discussed vulnerabilities of nuclear power plants and offered assistance in causing damage, as described in redacted partial transcripts presented in court. An expert from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission verified that the video included classified information regarding a Canadian nuclear power plant vulnerability. Ontario Power Generation expressed concerns that the disclosed information could potentially aid in optimizing an attack on a nuclear facility.
Although the specifics of the vulnerability remain sealed by court order, it was revealed that Mousaly’s site access at Ontario Power Generation had been revoked a month before the incident. Following the trial, certain information about Mousaly was removed from a government website. Mousaly’s lawyer emphasized that his client did not intend to harm the nuclear plant but aimed to raise safety concerns by advocating for the shutdown of nuclear power sources.
The judge ruled to detain Mousaly until a spot becomes available at a specialized provincial mental health facility. A mental health review board will oversee his case and determine the duration of his detention. The charge against Mousaly falls under Section 16(1) of Canada’s Security of Information Act, now known as the Foreign Interference and Security of Information Act, making it illegal to disclose information to foreign entities or terrorist groups that could potentially harm Canadian interests.
This case marks the third instance of charges brought under the act concluding in court, following convictions of other individuals such as Cameron Ortis in 2023 and Jeffrey Delisle in 2012 for similar offenses.
