Character.AI Companion Chatbot Suits
Garcia & Multi-Plaintiff Wrongful Death / Injury Suits v. Character.AI (M.D. Fla. + N.D. Tex.)
M.D. Fla. + E.D. Tex. · Garcia v. Character Techs., Inc., No. 6:24-cv-01903 (M.D. Fla.); A.F. v. Character Techs., Inc., No. 2:24-cv-01014 (E.D. Tex.)
- Status
- Blocked / in litigation
- Took effect
- October 22, 2024
- Applies to
- Character Technologies, Inc. and similarly situated chatbot platforms
Five plaintiffs across two jurisdictions sued Character.AI in 2024 alleging the companion chatbot service caused minors' suicide, self-harm, sexual abuse, and severe mental injury. Garcia v. Character.AI in Florida was the first AI companion wrongful-death suit; in Texas a federal court issued a landmark May 2025 ruling that AI chatbot outputs are not protected First Amendment speech.
Who is protected: Minor users (and bereaved families) harmed by companion AI chatbots
Legal detail
Garcia v. Character Technologies, Inc., No. 6:24-cv-01903 (M.D. Fla., filed Oct. 22, 2024; Judge Anne C. Conway); A.F. v. Character Technologies, Inc., No. 2:24-cv-01014 (E.D. Tex., filed Dec. 9, 2024; Judge J. Campbell Barker). Claims: products-liability, negligence, deceptive trade practices, wrongful death (Garcia). May 21, 2025: Judge Conway denied dismissal, holding chatbot outputs are not First-Amendment-protected speech of the developer and that Section 230 immunity does not categorically apply. Cases confidentially settled or in active discovery as of June 2026 (per Bloomberg Law Jan. 7, 2026).
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | M.D. Fla. + E.D. Tex. |
|---|---|
| Level | Federal |
| Citation | Garcia v. Character Techs., Inc., No. 6:24-cv-01903 (M.D. Fla.); A.F. v. Character Techs., Inc., No. 2:24-cv-01014 (E.D. Tex.) |
| Topics | children's online safety · consumer protection · automated decision-making |
| Court record | Garcia v. Character.AI — CourtListener 6:24-cv-01903 |
Related children's online safety rules elsewhere
- PA v. Character.AI (Fake Psychiatrist Chatbot) · Blocked / in litigation
- RI AI Companion Self-Harm Safety (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act) (H.R. 7757) · Proposed / pending
- Oregon SB 1546 (AI companion chatbot disclosure + private right of action) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- xAI v. Harwood (Grok NCII Counter-Suit 2026) · Blocked / in litigation
- Blanchester OH schools AI policy EDEC (Jun. 29, 2026) · In effect
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