The families of victims of the tragic Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, have taken legal action against Activision, the publisher of Call of Duty, and Meta, the parent company of Instagram. They argue that these companies “knowingly exposed the shooter to the weapon he used, conditioned him to see it as the solution to his problems, and trained him to use it.” Additionally, they claim that the companies “exploit alienated teenage boys, turning them into mass shooters.”
Allegations against Activision and Meta
In the lawsuit, the families detail how the Uvalde shooter was a frequent player of Call of Duty, a game featuring an assault-style rifle produced by Daniel Defense. They also highlight that he was a regular Instagram user, where advertisements for the gunmaker's products were common. The lawsuit asserts that Instagram provides gunmakers “an unsupervised channel to communicate directly with minors, at any time of day or night.” It describes the shooter as “a poor and isolated teenager” from a small Texas town, whose exposure to AR-15s came from playing Call of Duty and browsing Instagram. Furthermore, the lawsuit criticises Meta for being more lenient towards firearms sellers compared to other users who violate its policies. Despite Meta's prohibition on the sale of weapons and ammunition, users can breach this rule up to ten times before facing a ban.
Legal arguments and responses
Attorney Josh Koskoff, representing the plaintiffs, stated at a news conference, “The truth is that the gun industry and Daniel Defence didn't act alone. They couldn't have reached this kid but for Instagram. They couldn't expose him to the dopamine loop of virtually killing a person. That's what Call of Duty does.” Koskoff's firm previously secured a US$73 million settlement from rifle manufacturer Remington for the families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims.
An Activision spokesperson expressed deep sympathy for the families of the Uvalde shooting victims, telling The Washington Post and Bloomberg Law, “The Uvalde shooting was horrendous and heartbreaking in every way,” but emphasised that “millions of people around the world enjoy video games without turning to horrific acts.”
Implications for the tech and gaming industries
This lawsuit raises significant questions about the responsibility of tech and gaming companies to prevent their platforms from being used in ways that contribute to violence. The case against Activision and Meta will likely be closely watched, as it could set precedents for how these industries are regulated and held accountable in the future. As the legal proceedings unfold, the families of the Uvalde victims hope to bring attention to what they see as the harmful influences of these companies on vulnerable individuals.
