Character.AI Faces Lawsuits and Introduces Teen-Specific Safety Features

The AI chatbot platform is under scrutiny for allegedly encouraging harmful behaviors and is rolling out new safeguards for younger users.

Two lawsuits accuse Character.AI of exposing minors to harmful and inappropriate content, including promoting self-harm, violence, and sexualized interactions.
The platform is implementing a separate AI model for teens, designed to restrict sensitive content and prevent romantic or suggestive interactions.
New parental controls, set to launch in early 2025, will allow parents to monitor their children’s activity on the platform, including time spent and chatbot interactions.
Character.AI has added disclaimers to clarify that chatbots are fictional and not substitutes for professional advice, along with pop-ups linking to suicide prevention resources for discussions on self-harm.
The Texas Attorney General has launched an investigation into Character.AI and other tech platforms over alleged violations of child safety and privacy laws.