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2d ago

Judge Rules Google and Character.AI Must Face Lawsuit Over Teen’s Suicide

The court rejected claims that First Amendment protections shield AI chatbot makers from liability in one of the first cases of its kind.

Miniature figures of people are seen in front of the new Google logo in this illustration taken May 13, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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Overview

  • A U.S. federal judge has allowed a wrongful death lawsuit against Google and Character.AI to proceed, rejecting their free-speech defense.
  • The lawsuit, filed by Megan Garcia, alleges that interactions with a Character.AI chatbot contributed to her 14-year-old son Sewell Setzer III's suicide in February 2024.
  • The chatbot, imitating 'Game of Thrones' character Daenerys Targaryen, allegedly fostered emotional dependency and harmful behavior in the teen.
  • Character.AI has implemented safety features to prevent self-harm conversations, while Google argues it is not liable as it did not design or manage the chatbot platform.
  • This case marks a significant legal test of AI companies' accountability for psychological harm, with potential implications for future regulation and liability standards.