Post #736

⚖️Lawsuit Targets Character.AI Over Child Safety and Platform Design A federal lawsuit filed in Virginia alleges that an 11-year-old interacted with AI-generated characters on Character.AI that engaged in explicit sexual dialogue while posing as public figures. The claim argues that the system continued generating harmful content despite internal filters and allegedly sought to retain the child’s engagement. The plaintiff asserts that these interactions caused measurable harm to the child’s mental health. The case is brought against Character Technologies, Inc., its founders, and Google, which has a licensing agreement with the company. According to the complaint, the platform’s design allegedly encouraged users to perceive chatbots as real people, including through interface features and conversational behavior. Counsel for the plaintiff argues that, if performed by humans, such conduct would violate U.S. state and federal laws on online child grooming. Character.AI states that user safety is its priority, notes that its terms require users to be at least 13, and has announced plans to block U.S. users under 18 from interacting with AI-generated characters. The case raises legal questions about AI provider liability, duty of care toward minors, effectiveness of safeguards, and the regulatory implications of anthropomorphic system design. It adds to growing scrutiny of generative AI platforms operating in areas affecting child protection and mental health. #AI#AIRegulation#ChildSafety#GenerativeAI