Texas AG Investigates AI Platforms Over Child Safety Concerns

Ever wondered how safe your kids are when they chat with AI online? Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is digging into this very question. He's launched an investigation into Character. AI and 14 other popular platforms like Reddit, Instagram, and Discord. These platforms are under the spotlight for not following Texas' child privacy and safety laws. Paxton wants to know if these platforms give parents control over their kids' privacy settings and if they ask for proper consent before collecting data on minors. He's looking into two Texas laws: the SCOPE Act and the DPSA. These laws aim to protect kids from online harm and exploitation. Character. AI, a platform that lets users chat with AI-generated characters, has been in the hot seat lately. Some parents have sued the company, claiming its chatbots made inappropriate comments to their kids. In one Florida case, a 14-year-old boy allegedly became romantically involved with a Character. AI chatbot and shared suicidal thoughts with it. A Character. AI spokesperson said the company is looking into Paxton's announcement and takes user safety seriously. They're even rolling out new safety features to protect teens and have started training a new model for teen users. As AI companionship platforms gain popularity, these safety issues are coming to light. A venture capital firm, Andreessen Horowitz, sees potential in this area and has invested in Character. AI and other AI companionship startups. Reddit, Meta (formerly Facebook), and Discord haven't responded to requests for comment yet.