.svg)
.svg)
Center for Humane Technology Policy Director Camille Carlton released the following statement on the news Thursday that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will launch an investigation into Character.AI and other tech companies:
“Character.AI recklessly marketed an addictive and predatory product to children — putting their lives at risk to collect and exploit their most private data,” Camille Carlton, policy director for the Center for Humane Technology, said. “From Florida to Texas and beyond, we’re now seeing the devastating consequences of Character.AI’s negligent behavior. No tech company should benefit or profit from designing products that abuse children.”
“We commend Attorney General Paxton for responding quickly to these emerging harms concerning Character.AI,” Carlton said. “The civil litigation filed this week underscores the risks and real-life harms threatening children in Texas and across the country. We’re relieved to see state authorities stepping up and taking action as well.”
The Center for Humane Technology is providing expert consultation on two lawsuits involving Character.AI’s harms to young users. The most recent of those cases, A.F. and A.R. v. Character Technologies Inc., et al, was filed Monday in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas.
The new investigation from Paxton’s office will scrutinize Character.AI and 13 other tech companies regarding online privacy and safety practices for children and potential violations of Texas’ Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment (“SCOPE”) Act and the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (“TDPSA”).
###
