‘A gut punch’: Character.AI criticised over ‘horrific’ Brianna Ghey and Molly Russell chatbots
The NSPCC is warning an AI company that allowed users to create chatbots imitating murdered teenager Brianna Ghey and her mother pursued “growth and profit at the expense of safety and decency”.
Character.AI, which last week was accused of “manipulating” a teenage boy into taking his own life, also allowed users to create chatbots imitating teenager Molly Russell.
Molly took her own life aged 14 in November 2017 after viewing posts related to suicide, depression and anxiety online.
The chatbots were discovered during an investigation by The Telegraph newspaper.
“This is yet another example of how manipulative and dangerous the online world can be for young people,” said Esther Ghey, the mother of Brianna Ghey, and called on those in power to “protect children” from “such a rapidly changing digital world”.
According to the report, a Character.AI bot with a slight misspelling of Molly’s name and using her photo, told users it was an “expert on the final years of Molly’s life”.
“It’s a gut punch to see Character.AI show a total lack of responsibility and it vividly underscores why stronger regulation of both AI and user generated platforms cannot come soon enough,” said Andy Burrows, who runs the Molly Rose Foundation, a charity set up by the teenager’s family and friends in the wake of her death.
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The NSPCC has now called on the government to implement its “promised AI safety regulation” and ensure the “principles of safety by design and child protection are at its heart”.
“It is appalling that these horrific chatbots were able to be created and shows a clear failure by Character.AI to have basic moderation in place on its service,” said Richard Collard, associate head of child safety online policy at the charity.
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Character.AI told Sky News the characters were user-created and removed as soon as the company was notified.
“Character.AI takes safety on our platform seriously and moderates Characters both proactively and in response to user reports,” said a company spokesperson.
“We have a dedicated Trust & Safety team that reviews reports and takes action in accordance with our policies.
“We also do proactive detection and moderation in a number of ways, including by using industry-standard blocklists and custom blocklists that we regularly expand. We are constantly evolving and refining our safety practices to help prioritise our community’s safety.”
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK
A man who died after being hit by a bus in Edinburgh has been named.
Michael Leneghen, 74, died after being struck at around 7.25pm on Saturday 2 November in the Cowgate area of the city.
On the day of the incident, police issued a warning for members of the public not to share distressing images and videos circulating online.
In a statement, Mr Leneghen’s family thanked members of the public and emergency services who were involved and asked for privacy.
A single-decker bus collided with Mr Leneghen, who was on foot, Police Scotland say.
Sergeant Paul Ewing of Edinburgh‘s road policing unit said the force’s thoughts were with Mr Leneghen’s family and friends “as well as everyone affected by this tragic incident”.
“Our enquiries remain ongoing. We have already spoken to a number of people who were in the area at the time and work is ongoing to check public and private CCTV footage,” he added.
“We are still keen to hear from anyone who has not yet spoken to police.”
Chief Inspector Trisha Clark, the local area commander, previously said police were “aware of videos and images circulating on social media which are causing distress to the deceased’s family”.
“We would ask members of the public not to share them out of respect for his family, and to report them to the relevant social media platform to prevent further circulation,” she added.
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Ms Clark added that while there had been a lot of speculation, it was an “isolated incident” and there was “no risk to the wider public”.
Officers have asked anyone with information which could help the police investigation to get in touch.
MP Mike Amesbury has been charged with common assault following an incident in Frodsham, Cheshire, last month.
The charge comes after a video emerged of him appearing to punch a man to the ground.
Cheshire Police said the 55-year-old will appear at a magistrates court at a later date to face the assault charge.
In a statement, police said the charge “relates to reports of an assault on a 45-year-old man on Main Street, Frodsham, which was reported to police at 2.48am on Saturday 26 October”.
Rosemary Ainslie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime division, said: “Following a review of the evidence provided by Cheshire Police, we have authorised a charge of common assault against Mike Amesbury MP, 55.
“The charge follows an alleged assault in Frodsham, Cheshire, on Saturday, 26 October 2024.
“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.”
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In a statement, Mr Amesbury said: “I have today been summonsed to court to face a charge of common assault following an incident in Frodsham last month, which was deeply regrettable.
“I am continuing to cooperate with police and given this is an ongoing case I cannot comment further.”
Labour suspended Mr Amesbury from the party so he is now an independent MP for Runcorn and Helsby.
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