A 38-year-old man from Ontario, who was charged under Canada’s state secrets law for leaking sensitive information related to nuclear power plants, has been deemed not criminally responsible. James Alexander Mousaly, an employee at Ontario Power Generation, posted a YouTube video revealing vulnerabilities at a nuclear power plant and providing instructions on how to cause damage. The judge in Oshawa, Ont., ruled that Mousaly, who was suffering from bipolar disorder and psychosis at the time of the incident, was not in a sound mental state.
According to Ontario Superior Court Justice Jill Cameron, Mousaly had delusions of being a prophet and a whistleblower on workplace safety issues. The video was taken down by family members within a day of being posted, and there is no evidence that it was widely viewed. Transcripts of the video show Mousaly ranting against the nuclear industry and offering assistance to potential attackers.
An expert from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission confirmed that the video exposed a vulnerability at a Canadian nuclear plant, which was classified as secret. Ontario Power Generation expressed concerns that the information in the video could aid adversaries in planning an attack on a nuclear facility. Mousaly had been working as a nuclear operator at one of Ontario Power Generation’s plants, but his credentials were revoked prior to the incident.
Mousaly’s lawyer, Thomas Balka, stated that his client did not intend to harm the nuclear plant but aimed to raise awareness about safety concerns. Balka emphasized that Mousaly’s actions were influenced by his mental health issues. Following the ruling, Mousaly has been placed in custody until a space becomes available at a specialized mental health facility. A mental health review board will determine his future confinement.
The charge against Mousaly falls under Section 16(1) of Canada’s Security of Information Act, which has been renamed the Foreign Interference and Security of Information Act. This case marks only the third time charges under this act have been concluded in court. In previous instances, individuals were convicted for similar offenses involving the disclosure of classified information.