Hello, my fellow tech enthusiasts! Today, I bring you a rather interesting piece of news involving two big names in the industry: Activision and Meta. The families of the victims of the tragic Uvalde school shooting in Texas have filed a lawsuit against these companies, alleging that they promoted the use of firearms to underage boys.
The lawsuit claims that both Activision and Meta knowingly exposed the shooter to weapons, conditioned him to see violence as a solution, and trained him in firearm use. This is not the first time such claims have been made against video game companies, but it is certainly a contentious issue that has yet to be resolved.
The families, consisting of around 45 members, accuse Activision and Meta of grooming young men and leading them towards violent behavior. The shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24th, 2022, resulted in the tragic loss of 21 lives, sparking further debate on the influence of video games on individuals.
The lawsuit points out that the shooter played Call of Duty extensively, honing his skills as a marksman and even using the same type of weapon in the game as in the shooting. The families also claim that Instagram played a role in promoting gun culture to minors, further fueling the cycle of violence.
In addition to Activision and Meta, Daniel Defense, the manufacturer of the AR-15 used in the shooting, is also named in the lawsuit. Despite Meta’s rules against selling guns on its platform, the gunman was able to purchase the weapon from Daniel Defense’s website, raising questions about platform accountability.