A lawsuit targets Character.AI, a popular chatbot platform, alleging responsibility for the suicide of a 14-year-old boy who developed a disturbing relationship with a fictional AI character. The case raises crucial questions about accountability for AI's actions and potential harms, particularly to children.
Almost a year ago, Megan Garcia heard a gunshot in her home in Florida. Her 14-year-old son, Sewell, had taken his life.“Please come home to me as soon as possible, my love,” someone named “Daenerys Targaryen” had said. “What if I told you I could come home right now?” he responded. “Please do, my sweet king.” Moments later, he shot himself.
While the technology might seem harmless – allowing kids to chat with their favourite fictional characters from the worlds of Harry Potter, Star Wars, or Game of Thrones – it was clear to Megan In much of North America, where tech governance is almost non-existent, accountability likely means legal liability, which is partly why Megan is suing. But in places such as Europe, Britain and Australia, an alternate approach is taking shape.
First, the Online Harms Act established a duty of care on social-media platforms, mandating that they ensure their products are safe for Canadian consumers through risk assessments and implementation of safeguards or design changes. It is impossible to imagine that Character.AI, in its current form, would pass such an assessment and, therefore, would either need to be redesigned or be barred from Canada altogether.
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