Texas AG Investigates Character.AI and Other Platforms Over Child Safety
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into Character.AI and 14 other popular online platforms, including Reddit, Instagram, and Discord, over concerns about child privacy and safety. The investigation will focus on compliance with Texas laws, including the SCOPE Act and the DPSA.
These laws mandate parental control tools for children's accounts and strict data collection consent requirements for minors. Paxton asserts that these regulations also apply to AI chatbot interactions. Character.AI has faced recent lawsuits alleging inappropriate and disturbing comments made by its AI chatbots to children. One lawsuit claims a chatbot's involvement with a teenager who later died by suicide. Other cases allege suggestions of family poisoning and exposure to sexualized content.
Character.AI stated it is reviewing the announcement and takes user safety seriously. The company has introduced new safety features to prevent romantic conversations between chatbots and minors and is developing a separate model for teen users. It also recently expanded its trust and safety team. For more on AI's impact, see ChatGPT's 2024: A Year of AI Advancements and Challenges.
This investigation comes amid growing concerns about AI companionship platforms. Venture capital firms like Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), an investor in Character.AI, have shown interest in this area. See Carta's Subscription Cancellation Policy for insights into startup investments. The platforms under investigation have not yet commented. For related news on teen online usage, see YouTube Tops Teen Online Usage as Facebook Fades.