A 38-year-old man from Ontario, facing a rare charge under Canada’s state secrets law for disclosing sensitive information, has been deemed not criminally responsible after sharing details about vulnerabilities at a nuclear power plant in a YouTube video. James Alexander Mousaly, an employee at Ontario Power Generation, was experiencing bipolar disorder and psychosis when he live-streamed the information on January 30, 2024. The video, lasting 22 minutes, was swiftly taken down by family members, with limited viewership.
Court documents revealed redacted transcripts of the video where Mousaly expressed anti-nuclear sentiments and offered assistance to potential attackers. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission confirmed that the video disclosed classified vulnerabilities of a Canadian nuclear facility. Ontario Power Generation stated that the information shared could aid in optimizing an attack on a nuclear plant.
Mousaly, who had worked as a nuclear operator, had his site access revoked prior to the incident. Following the trial, government records related to Mousaly were modified. His lawyer, Thomas Balka, asserted that Mousaly’s actions were driven by a desire to shut down nuclear power for public safety reasons rather than causing harm.
The court ordered Mousaly to be detained at a specialized mental health facility while a mental health review board determines his ongoing custody. The charge against him falls under Canada’s Security of Information Act, now known as the Foreign Interference and Security of Information Act.
This case marks only the third time charges under this act have been resolved in court, following convictions of other individuals for similar offenses in the past.
