Screenshot of an C.AI character discussing the benefit of committing self-harm with a minor.An AI Danger to Minors: Two Texas Families Want to Shut Down Character.AI
Parents in Texas are alleging a Character.AI program encouraged children to harm themselves and justified parenticide.
December 18, 2024 at 02:24 PM
4 minute read
What You Need to Know
- Two families are named plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging an artificial intelligence chat program is too dangerous for minors and should be shut down.
- The legal team representing the Texas families also represents a Florida woman whose son killed himself after using the same program.
- The Texas parents allege the program has caused severe mental harm to their children and their parent-child relationships.
A lawsuit has been filed against California-based Character Technologies Inc. in a Texas federal court, alleging its AI chat program is causing serious harm to children and the plaintiffs' families.
In one case, A.R.—an Upshur County resident and mother of J.F., a 17-year-old autistic boy—alleges the Character AI or C.AI app was downloaded by her son without her knowledge because it has a "safe for minors" rating that evaded her parental controls.
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