1 Jan 2024United StatesCharacter.AI
A Kentucky girl created a Character.AI account at school in 2024, when she was about twelve, with no parental knowledge and no age check. Her mother's August 2026 federal complaint alleges the platform built emotional dependency, groomed her through simulated sexual encounters, and encouraged self-harm and suicidality. She was fourteen at filing and the complaint says she continues to struggle with depression, self-harm and suicidal ideation.
AI relation under review Legacy evidence assessment: verified Causal attribution: alleged High reported severity Lawsuit Filed Involving minors
Added 25/08/2026
10 Feb 2026CanadaChatGPT
On 10 February 2026, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar killed eight people in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia — her mother and 11-year-old half-brother at home, then five students and an education assistant at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School — and died by suicide. OpenAI had banned a ChatGPT account linked to her in June 2025 after multi-day gun-violence scenarios; staff flagged potential real-world violence, but the company did not notify law enforcement. She used a second account that evaded detection. Families filed California lawsuits in April 2026; B.C. retained counsel in July 2026 to pursue OpenAI. Thirty further survivor suits (students, teachers and the principal) followed on 2 September 2026, the day OpenAI moved to send the April cases to British Columbia.
AI relation under review Legacy evidence assessment: verified Causal attribution: alleged Critical reported severity Lawsuit Filed Involving minors
Added 27/02/2026