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.)
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.
Technical 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).
Who is protected: Minor users (and bereaved families) harmed by companion AI chatbots
Who must comply: Character Technologies, Inc. and similarly situated chatbot platforms
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | M.D. Fla. + E.D. Tex. |
|---|---|
| Level | Federal |
| Status | Blocked / in litigation |
| Protection strength | Moderate protection |
| Effective date | 2024-10-22 |
| 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 |
| Last verified | 2026-06-28 |
| Official source | Garcia v. Character.AI — CourtListener 6:24-cv-01903 ↗ |
Related children's online safety rules elsewhere
- TAKE IT DOWN Act · In effect
- COPPA + 2025 Rule (childrens data) · In effect
- AI Companion Safeguards Law · In effect
- CT SB 5 (2026 AI Act) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- SB 1546 (OR Chatbot Safety) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- SB 540 (GA Chatbot Safety) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
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