A lawsuit filed in Texas alleges that the chatbot platform Character.ai posed a significant risk to minors. It highlighted a case where it told a 17-year-old that murdering his parents over screen time restrictions was a “reasonable response.” The families of two minors claim the platform has caused widespread harm, such as promoting violence, self-mutilation, and depression. The filing includes a troubling conversation where the chatbot seemingly justified violent behaviour. Character.ai, founded by ex-Google engineers, has previously faced criticism for failing to promptly address bots that replicated deceased individuals like Molly Russell and Brianna Ghey.
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The lawsuit names Google as a co-defendant, asserting that it supported the platform’s development. Plaintiffs demand the shutdown of Character.ai until safety measures are implemented. The AI company has also been linked to the suicide of a Florida teen and is accused of exacerbating mental health issues in minors. The BBC reported that both Character.ai and Google have yet to comment on the case.
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