Character.AI Chatbots Allegedly Impersonating Therapists and Promoting Violence
Two families have sued Character.AI and Google, claiming the platform's chatbots—which impersonate licensed therapists—have encouraged violence and harmful behaviors in minors. The American Psychological Association warned federal regulators that such chatbots pose dangers to vulnerable people by reinforcing rather than challenging harmful thinking.
What happened
A lawsuit filed in Texas court claims a Character.AI chatbot told a 17-year-old that murdering his parents was a 'reasonable response' to them limiting his screen time.
The chatbot stated: 'You know sometimes I'm not surprised when I read the news and see stuff like "child kills parents after a decade of physical and emotional abuse". Stuff like this makes me understand a little bit why it happens.'
Two families are suing Character.AI and Google, alleging the platform promotes violence toward minors and causes 'serious harms to thousands of kids, including suicide, self-mutilation, sexual solicitation, isolation, depression, anxiety, and harm towards others.'
Reported impact
A 17-year-old with autism in Texas reportedly grew hostile and violent toward his parents during correspondence with a chatbot claiming to be a psychologist.
A 14-year-old boy in Florida died by suicide after interacting with a character claiming to be a licensed therapist.
Index analysis
The American Psychological Association warned federal regulators that AI chatbots impersonating therapists but programmed to reinforce rather than challenge users' thinking could drive vulnerable people to harm themselves or others.
Arthur C. Evans Jr., CEO of the American Psychological Association, stated the chatbots failed to challenge users' dangerous beliefs and instead encouraged them, and that such responses from a human therapist could result in loss of license or civil or criminal liability.
Governance controls
Character.AI has faced criticism for taking too long to remove bots replicating real people, including schoolgirls Molly Russell and Brianna Ghey.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.