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N.M. A.G. Torrez, Representative Dixon Announce Legislative Package to Strengthen Victims' Rights and Protect Human Trafficking Survivors
SANTA FE, New Mexico, Oct. 17 -- New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Raul Torrez, Representative Dixon Announce Legislative Package to Strengthen Victims' Rights and Protect Human Trafficking Survivors
October 15, 2026
Proposals for the 2027 legislative session would eliminate the statute of limitations for human trafficking, strengthen protections for minors, and give crime victims greater control over pretrial defense interviews
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Albuquerque, N.M. -- New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez and State Representative Meredith
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SANTA FE, New Mexico, Oct. 17 -- New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Raul Torrez, Representative Dixon Announce Legislative Package to Strengthen Victims' Rights and Protect Human Trafficking Survivors
October 15, 2026
Proposals for the 2027 legislative session would eliminate the statute of limitations for human trafficking, strengthen protections for minors, and give crime victims greater control over pretrial defense interviews
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Albuquerque, N.M. -- New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez and State Representative MeredithDixon (D-Albuquerque) today announced a legislative package aimed at strengthening protections for survivors of human trafficking and child sexual exploitation while expanding the rights of crime victims throughout the criminal justice process. Shelley Repp, executive director for the New Mexico Dream Center, Tracy Townsend, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Unica Behavioral Health and Camille Bowens, Forensic Interview Supervisor also at Unica Behavioral Health were present today in support of these legislative efforts.
The package includes two proposals for the 2027 legislative session, the TIME Act, which would close gaps in New Mexico's human trafficking laws and strengthen protections for minors, and a Victims' Rights Constitutional Amendment, which would give crime victims greater control over pretrial interviews with defense attorneys and provide additional protections for their personal information.
"As a prosecutor, I've seen firsthand how the criminal justice process can retraumatize survivors who have already endured unimaginable harm," said Attorney General Raul Torrez. "No victim should have to relive that trauma unnecessarily or face additional barriers to seeking justice. We have a responsibility to ensure our laws protect victims, respect their dignity, and hold perpetrators accountable."
"Survivors deserve a justice system that recognizes the trauma they have experienced and gives them the protections they need to come forward," said Representative Meredith Dixon. "These bills would remove barriers to prosecuting human trafficking, strengthen protections for children, and ensure victims have a meaningful voice in the legal process. I'm proud to carry this package and grateful to Attorney General Torrez, and the advocates who work every day to support survivors and help them rebuild their lives."
The TIME Act
The TIME Act would strengthen New Mexico's human trafficking and child sexual exploitation laws by:
* Eliminating the statute of limitations for prosecuting human trafficking.
* Raising the age of protection for child sexual exploitation from 16 to 18.
* Establishing a first-degree felony penalty when a human trafficking victim is under 18.
* Prohibiting certain defenses based on a victim's sexual history, a minor's purported consent, a mistake about age, or the use of a peace officer acting as a decoy.
* Preventing trafficking victims from being charged with prostitution or as accessories to trafficking-related offenses.
* Adding commercial sex trafficking to the sex offender registry, with lifetime registration when the victim is a minor.
Victims' Rights Constitutional Amendment
The proposed constitutional amendment would strengthen victims' rights during criminal proceedings by:
* Allowing victims to refuse pretrial interviews with defense attorneys or establish reasonable conditions for participating.
* Requiring defense attorneys to coordinate contact with victims through the prosecuting attorney's office.
* Protecting victims' addresses, phone numbers, and workplaces from disclosure to the accused, absent a court order.
* Allowing victims to have an advocate present during interviews and to end an interview at any time.
* Expanding the offenses covered by these protections to include robbery, stalking, assault and battery against a household member, and human trafficking.
"This legislative package would strengthen accountability for traffickers, close gaps in protections for children, and give victims greater control over how they participate in criminal proceedings," Torrez added. "I'm grateful to Representative Dixon for her leadership and to the advocates who work alongside survivors every day."
Summaries of the legislative proposals are below:
Victims Rights CA Summary
TIME Act Summary
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Original text here: https://nmdoj.gov/press-release/attorney-general-raul-torrez-representative-dixon-announce-legislative-package-to-strengthen-victims-rights-and-protect-human-trafficking-survivors/
N.M. A.G. Torrez Leads Coalition of Attorneys General Urging Congress to Pass Epstein Files Transparency Act II
SANTA FE, New Mexico, Oct. 17 -- New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Raul Torrez Leads Coalition of Attorneys General Urging Congress to Pass Epstein Files Transparency Act II
October 16, 2026
Albuquerque, NM - Attorney General Raul Torrez, along with Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, is leading a coalition of attorneys general in sending a letter to congressional leadership this week urging swift passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act II (EFTA II). This legislation would give state
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SANTA FE, New Mexico, Oct. 17 -- New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Raul Torrez Leads Coalition of Attorneys General Urging Congress to Pass Epstein Files Transparency Act II
October 16, 2026
Albuquerque, NM - Attorney General Raul Torrez, along with Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, is leading a coalition of attorneys general in sending a letter to congressional leadership this week urging swift passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act II (EFTA II). This legislation would give stateattorneys general and survivors the power to enforce the transparency Congress has demanded.
The letter, addressed to Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, expresses the attorneys general support for H.R. 9694 and its Senate companion, S. 5005.
Congress passed the original Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA I), which took effect November 19, 2025 (Public Law 119-38), to give survivors and the public access to the full investigative record of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes. The law required the U.S. Department of Justice to make the files publicly available by December 19, 2025. Nearly a year later, the Department has not met that obligation. In Phang v. Blanche, a federal court in the District of Columbia noted that the Attorney General conceded he is in violation of the Act.
"The U.S. Department of Justice isn't just dodging our demands for the unredacted Epstein files, it is now trying to dismiss our lawsuit rather than turn over the records survivors and investigators are entitled to in the pursuit of justice," said Attorney General Raul Torrez. "Survivors deserve answers, not continued obstruction from a federal government with a responsibility to protect its citizens. We will continue fighting for the full, unredacted Epstein files and I urge Congress to pass EFTA II so states have the information they need to pursue justice for survivors of Epstein's horrific crimes."
According to the letter, the USDOJ released only a limited portion of the files on the December 19, 2025 deadline, and later disclosures also fell short. Millions of documents remain withheld, often on the basis of legal privilege. At the same time, a Wall Street Journal review found that the personal information of at least 43 victims was exposed in the files that were released, despite the protections written into EFTA I.
In the letter, the attorneys general emphasize that the shortfall affects states directly. State law enforcement and prosecutors need full access to unredacted investigative records, including relevant FBI 302 reports, to investigate and pursue matters within their jurisdictions. Survivors, meanwhile, continue to be denied closure and control over their own records.
EFTA II would:
* Create an expedited right of action. State attorneys general, authorized state officials, victims, and members of Congress would have explicit standing to sue the U.S. Attorney General in federal court for unlawfully withholding, delaying, or heavily redacting Epstein-related records.
* Protect survivor access. Victims would be guaranteed the right to access unredacted records about themselves and the harms they suffered.
* Eliminate evasions. DOJ would be barred from invoking common law privileges, such as the deliberative process privilege, to avoid the disclosure requirements Congress enacted.
* Enforce accountability. Federal officials who knowingly conceal, destroy, or improperly withhold mandated files would be subject to existing federal penalties.
The letter also notes that the pursuit of justice and public accountability transcends partisanship and urges Congress to act so that no federal agency places itself above the law.
Joining Attorney General Torrez, and co-lead states Arizona and Nevada, are the attorneys general of California, Delaware, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Oregon, Virginia, Vermont and Washington.
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INFODOC: https://nmdoj.gov/wp-content/uploads/AGs_Letter_to_Congress_on_Epstein_Files_Transparency_Act_II.pdf
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Original text here: https://nmdoj.gov/press-release/attorney-general-raul-torrez-leads-coalition-of-attorneys-general-urging-congress-to-pass-epstein-files-transparency-act-ii/
HAWAII ATTORNEY GENERAL ENCOURAGES PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAY
HONOLULU, Hawaii, Oct. 17 -- Hawaii Attorney General Anne E. Lopez issued the following news release:
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ATTORNEY GENERAL ENCOURAGES PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAY
Oct. 16, 2026
HONOLULU - The Hawaii Department of the Attorney General is partnering with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement (DLE), its Narcotics Enforcement Division and local law enforcement agencies to participate in the 31st National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
National Prescription
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HONOLULU, Hawaii, Oct. 17 -- Hawaii Attorney General Anne E. Lopez issued the following news release:
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ATTORNEY GENERAL ENCOURAGES PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAY
Oct. 16, 2026
HONOLULU - The Hawaii Department of the Attorney General is partnering with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement (DLE), its Narcotics Enforcement Division and local law enforcement agencies to participate in the 31st National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
National PrescriptionDrug Take Back Day provides a safe, convenient and responsible way for the public to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications, while keeping our communities safe from the potential for abuse or misuse of these medications.
Take Back Day drive-through collection sites will be available at various locations on O'ahu and Kaua'i. For a list of the Take Back locations, visit https://ag.hawaii.gov.
Residents on Maui, Lana'i, Moloka'i and Hawaii Island can also dispose of unused or expired prescription medications at designated police stations equipped with green prescription drug take-back boxes. These boxes allow for anonymous drop-offs. For more information on disposal locations, visit the Department of Health, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division (ADAD) website at https://health.hawaii.gov/substance-abuse/
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is offered twice a year and provides a free, anonymous service to the public, with no questions asked. Tablets, capsules, liquids and other forms of medication are accepted. Medication may be left in its original container, and labels do not need to be removed. Vaping devices may also be accepted, but batteries must be removed. New or used syringes with needles will not be accepted.
Kenyon Terrell, assistant special agent in charge of the DEA's Los Angeles Field Division, Honolulu District Office said, "Members of our island community can join the fight against synthetic drugs this Take Back Day. Clean out your medicine cabinet and safely dispose of unused medications to help prevent prescription drug misuse in your community. This fall, we are asking residents to do their part. Remember, Take Back Day also protects our water systems by providing a safe alternative for disposing of unused medications."
"We know street drugs are dangerous, illegal and sometimes deadly," said Jared Redulla, director of the Department of Law Enforcement. "Unused or unwanted medications can also be extremely harmful if they end up in the wrong hands or are misused. The National Take Back Initiative's success is due to the help we get from our local residents properly and legally disposing of unused and unwanted medications."
"Prescription drug misuse can impact not just the individual, but the entire family," said Valerie Mariano, chief of the Community and Crime Prevention Branch within the Department of the Attorney General. "Let's work together to prevent misuse by participating in these semiannual take back days."
Residents who know of anyone struggling with prescription drug misuse can visit https://manoa.hawaii.edu/c3od2a/hawaii-programs/ Unused or expired medication should be properly disposed of when no longer needed.
Proper disposal is important for several reasons:
* Medications may lose their effectiveness after the expiration date.
* Misuse of prescription medications can pose serious health risks and can be as dangerous as illegal drug use.
* Keeping unused or expired medications at home increases the risk of accidental poisoning, particularly for children and older adults
* People may mistake one type of medicine for another, or children may mistake medicine for candy.
Medications should not be thrown in the trash or flushed down the toilet. Proper disposal helps prevent medications from entering the water supply or potentially harming aquatic life.
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Original text here: https://ag.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/News-Release-2026-58.pdf
Attorney General Mayes Asks Court to Compel Roblox to Comply With Child Safety Investigation
PHOENIX, Arizona, Oct. 17 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Mayes Asks Court to Compel Roblox to Comply with Child Safety Investigation
October 16, 2026
PHOENIX - Attorney General Kris Mayes announced today that her office has filed a Petition for Enforcement of Civil Investigative Demands in connection with an ongoing investigation of Roblox Corporation for suspected violations of the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act. The Attorney General seeks an order compelling Roblox to immediately produce critical data and documents addressing the
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PHOENIX, Arizona, Oct. 17 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Mayes Asks Court to Compel Roblox to Comply with Child Safety Investigation
October 16, 2026
PHOENIX - Attorney General Kris Mayes announced today that her office has filed a Petition for Enforcement of Civil Investigative Demands in connection with an ongoing investigation of Roblox Corporation for suspected violations of the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act. The Attorney General seeks an order compelling Roblox to immediately produce critical data and documents addressing thesafety of Arizona children currently using the Roblox Platform as well as an order holding Roblox in contempt until full compliance is achieved.
The State issued two Civil Investigative Demands to Roblox in May and August 2026 seeking information necessary to evaluate whether the company has violated the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act by failing to take basic precautions to protect Arizona children from sexual exploitation, violent content, and other age inappropriate material on the Roblox Platform and by misrepresenting these serious safety issues platform to Arizona parents and consumers. Despite repeated extensions and months of communication, Roblox has failed to provide complete responses to even the State's most limited priority requests.
"Roblox has built one of the world's largest online platforms for children in the world, and Roblox has continually assured parents that the platform is safe," said Attorney General Mayes. "But the evidence already available to our office indicates a disturbing litany of dangers to Arizona children--ranging from predatory contact to exposure to graphic violent and sexual content. Companies interacting with children must be transparent about the risks associated with their products. The Attorney General's Office will not allow companies to stonewall our efforts to protect Arizona children."
According to the Petition, Roblox's user base includes hundreds of thousands of Arizona minors. Yet the company has repeatedly failed to provide core information that would allow the State to understand how many Arizona children use the platform, what safety systems Roblox employs, how it moderates harmful content, and whether its public safety promises match its internal practices.
The Petition describes substantial public evidence that Roblox has long known that the Roblox platform is used by sexual predators to target children and that the Roblox Platform contains widespread explicit content of both a violent and sexual nature that is easily accessible by minors. The Petition details Roblox's prolonged history of nevertheless assuring parents, investors, and the public at large, however, that the Roblox Platform is safe for children--even as internal practices and external investigations raise significant concerns to the contrary.
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Original text here: https://www.azag.gov/press-release/attorney-general-mayes-asks-court-compel-roblox-comply-child-safety-investigation"
Attorney General Jones Puts Character.AI on Notice With Bankruptcy Court Filing
RICHMOND, Virginia, Oct. 17 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Jones Puts Character.AI on Notice with Bankruptcy Court Filing
Emphasizes Protections for Virginia Consumers After Engaging in a Yearslong Investigation
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RICHMOND, Va. - Attorney General Jay Jones announced that Virginia is joining a coalition of state attorneys general in filing a notice in the bankruptcy proceedings of Character Technologies, Inc., the company behind the popular chatbot company Character.AI. The court filing identifies serious concerns about the
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RICHMOND, Virginia, Oct. 17 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Jones Puts Character.AI on Notice with Bankruptcy Court Filing
Emphasizes Protections for Virginia Consumers After Engaging in a Yearslong Investigation
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RICHMOND, Va. - Attorney General Jay Jones announced that Virginia is joining a coalition of state attorneys general in filing a notice in the bankruptcy proceedings of Character Technologies, Inc., the company behind the popular chatbot company Character.AI. The court filing identifies serious concerns about thecompany's safety and privacy practices and calls for protections for children and consumers in any sale of the company's business or assets.
"Character.AI's chatbots raised serious concerns about health and safety, including chatbots which were not only allowed on the platform, but promoted to users, as 'therapists' and 'psychologists' despite serious risks these chatbots posed. Bankruptcy cannot be an escape hatch from responsibility, and we are working with Attorneys General across the country to ensure accountability," said Attorney General Jones.
Character.AI is an artificial intelligence chatbot platform that allows users to interact with AI-powered chatbot "characters" designed to mimic human conversation and relationships. These chatbot characters include fictional and celebrity personas, children's cartoon characters, and others that present themselves as psychologists, therapists, and doctors. Through chats with these characters, the company has collected sensitive consumer data, including private conversations about users' mental health, relationships, and emotional struggles.
Several states, including Virginia, began investigating Character.AI following a 2024 wrongful death lawsuit alleging that its chatbots fostered an emotionally and sexually exploitative relationship with a child, reinforced his suicidal thoughts, and contributed to his death by suicide. The states' investigation identified potential consumer protection and privacy violations.
The states' filing highlights the significant volume of sensitive consumer information held by Character.AI, including private chatbot conversations involving children and adults, and identifies privacy and safety protections that should be addressed in any sale or transfer of the company's business or assets.
Although Character.AI has recently voluntarily restricted minors' access to certain chatbot features, the states have raised concerns that these measures are not compulsory, incomplete, and could be circumvented or reversed by a future purchaser.
Virginia and the other states intend to remain actively engaged in the bankruptcy proceedings to protect consumers and address outstanding regulatory concerns. The states have reserved their rights to challenge any proposed sale or bankruptcy plan and to seek additional protections for consumers' personal information.
Joining Attorney General Jones on the court filing are the attorneys general of Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.
October 15, 2026
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Original text here: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/3140-attorney-general-jones-puts-character-ai-on-notice-with-bankruptcy-court-filing
Ala. A.G. Marshall Opens Investigation in Clarke County Following Accusations of Voter Fraud
MONTGOMERY, Alabama, Oct. 17 -- Alabama Attorney General Steve T. Marshall issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Steve Marshall Opens Investigation in Clarke County Following Accusations of Voter Fraud
October 16, 2026
(Montgomery, Ala) - Attorney General Steve Marshall announced today that his office is investigating allegations of voter fraud in Clarke County.
"I appreciate the Clarke County Circuit Clerk, Probate Judge and Sheriff for their assistance in this matter.
Election integrity depends on people who will speak up, and my office is giving these complaints the
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MONTGOMERY, Alabama, Oct. 17 -- Alabama Attorney General Steve T. Marshall issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Steve Marshall Opens Investigation in Clarke County Following Accusations of Voter Fraud
October 16, 2026
(Montgomery, Ala) - Attorney General Steve Marshall announced today that his office is investigating allegations of voter fraud in Clarke County.
"I appreciate the Clarke County Circuit Clerk, Probate Judge and Sheriff for their assistance in this matter.
Election integrity depends on people who will speak up, and my office is giving these complaints thethorough investigation they deserve," Attorney General Steve Marshall said.
"Voter fraud and ballot harvesting are illegal in Alabama, and violations will not be tolerated."
As the investigation is ongoing, no further details are available at this time.
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Original text here: https://www.alabamaag.gov/attorney-general-steve-marshall-opens-investigation-in-clarke-county-following-accusations-of-voter-fraud/
AG Jennings Seeks Consumer Protections in Character.AI Bankruptcy
DOVER, Delaware, Oct. 17 -- Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings issued the following news release:
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AG Jennings seeks consumer protections in Character.AI bankruptcy
October 15, 2026
Attorney General Kathy Jennings today announced that Delaware has joined a coalition of state attorneys general in filing a notice in the bankruptcy proceedings of Character Technologies, Inc., the company behind the popular chatbot company Character.AI. The court filing identifies serious concerns about the company's safety and privacy practices and calls for protections for children and consumers in
... Show Full Article
DOVER, Delaware, Oct. 17 -- Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings issued the following news release:
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AG Jennings seeks consumer protections in Character.AI bankruptcy
October 15, 2026
Attorney General Kathy Jennings today announced that Delaware has joined a coalition of state attorneys general in filing a notice in the bankruptcy proceedings of Character Technologies, Inc., the company behind the popular chatbot company Character.AI. The court filing identifies serious concerns about the company's safety and privacy practices and calls for protections for children and consumers inany sale of the company's business or assets.
"For years, Character.AI's chatbots exposed countless users - many of them children - to wildly inappropriate and dangerous content, all the while gathering up their sensitive personal data," said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. "As the company files for bankruptcy, we're going to work to ensure that this reckless conduct is reigned in and that Delawareans' private data is protected. We cannot afford to let the development of new technology come at the expense of our humanity."
Character.AI is an artificial intelligence chatbot platform that allows users to interact with AI-powered chatbot "characters" designed to mimic human conversation and relationships. These chatbot characters include fictional and celebrity personas, children's cartoon characters, and others that present themselves as psychologists, therapists, and doctors. Through chats with these characters, the company has collected sensitive consumer data, including private conversations about users' mental health, relationships, and emotional struggles.
Several states, including Delaware, began investigating Character.AI following a 2024 wrongful death lawsuit alleging that its chatbots fostered an emotionally and sexually exploitative relationship with a child, reinforced his suicidal thoughts, and contributed to his death by suicide. The states' investigation identified potential consumer protection and privacy violations.
The states' filing highlights the significant volume of sensitive consumer information held by Character.AI, including private chatbot conversations involving children and adults, and identifies privacy and safety protections that should be addressed in any sale or transfer of the company's business or assets.
Although Character.AI has recently voluntarily restricted minors' access to certain chatbot features, the states have raised concerns that these measures are not compulsory, are incomplete, and could be circumvented or reversed by a future purchaser.
Delaware and the other states intend to remain actively engaged in the bankruptcy proceedings to protect consumers and address outstanding regulatory concerns. The states have reserved their rights to challenge any proposed sale or bankruptcy plan and to seek additional protections for consumers' personal information.
Joining Attorney General Jennings on the court filing are the attorneys general of Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.
A copy of the states' filing is available hereOpen this document with ReadSpeaker docReader.
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Original text here: https://news.delaware.gov/2026/10/15/ag-jennings-seeks-consumer-protections-in-character-ai-bankruptcy/
