Texas AG is investigating Character.AI, other platforms over child safety concerns
Texas attorney general Ken Paxton on Thursday launched an investigation into Character.AI and 14 other technology platforms over child privacy and safety concerns. The investigation will assess whether Character.AI — and other platforms that are popular with young people, including Reddit, Instagram, and Discord — conform to Texas’ child privacy and safety laws.
The investigation by Paxton, who is often tough on technology companies, will look into whether these platforms complied with two Texas laws: the Securing Children Online Through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act and the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (DPSA).
These laws require platforms to provide parents with tools to manage the privacy settings of their children’s accounts and hold tech companies to strict consent requirements when collecting data on minors. Paxton claims both of these laws extend to how minors interact with AI chatbots.
“These investigations are a critical step toward ensuring that social media and AI companies comply with our laws designed to protect children from exploitation and harm,” Paxton said in a press release.