Activision expressed sympathies but denied any connection, Daniel Defense did not comment.
California lawsuit is one of the first against a video game maker for promoting weapons used in mass shootings.
In May 2024, families of victims filed lawsuits against Instagram, Activision, and Daniel Defense over alleged role in Uvalde shooting.
Lawsuits argue companies 'groomed' gunman by providing access to content and tools that may have influenced his actions.
Two lawsuits were filed - one in California and another in Texas.
In May 2024, families of children and teachers killed in the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas filed lawsuits against several entities for their role in the tragic event. Two lawsuits were filed against Instagram, Activision (publisher of Call of Duty), and Daniel Defense for allegedly contributing to the gunman's actions leading up to the shooting.
The shooter had purchased an AR-15-style rifle a few days before the shooting when he turned 18. The lawsuits argue that these companies played a role in 'grooming' the teenager, providing him with access to content and tools that may have influenced his decision to commit the massacre.
Activision expressed sympathies to the families but denied any connection between their product and the horrific acts. Daniel Defense did not immediately comment on the allegations.
The first lawsuit was filed in California, while another was filed in Texas. The California suit appears to be one of the first to target a video game maker for promoting weapons used in mass shootings.
The families are seeking accountability and justice for their losses. The lawsuits will likely face significant challenges due to legal protections afforded to technology companies and gun manufacturers, but they represent an important step in the ongoing conversation about gun violence and its root causes.
Lawyer files two lawsuits on behalf of Uvalde school shooting victims
Manufacturer of AR-15-style weapon used in the attack named as a defendant
Call of Duty publisher named as a defendant in the lawsuits
Meta, the social media giant, is also named as a defendant
Accuracy
Families of Uvalde school shooting victims are suing Meta and Call of Duty developer Activision over allegations that they promoted the use of firearms to underage boys.
Families in Uvalde filed lawsuits against Meta Platforms, which owns Instagram, and the maker of the video game ‘Call of Duty’ on the second anniversary of the Robb Elementary School attack.
In May 2024, families of children and teachers killed in the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas filed lawsuits against Instagram, Activision (publisher of Call of Duty), and Daniel Defense for their role in ‘grooming’ the teenage gunman.
The shooter had purchased an AR-15-style rifle a few days before the shooting when he turned 18.
Activision expressed sympathies to the families but denied any connection between their product and horrific acts.
Daniel Defense did not immediately comment on the allegations.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
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Deception
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None Found At Time Of
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Fallacies
(95%)
The author is making an accusation against three companies: Instagram, Activision (publisher of Call of Duty), and Daniel Defense (rifle manufacturer). The author claims that these companies 'groomed' the gunman to become a mass shooter. This is an appeal to causality fallacy as there is no evidence provided that these companies directly caused the gunman to commit the shooting. Additionally, there are dichotomous depictions in the article where it suggests that playing video games or interacting with technology makes one a mass shooter, which is not true.
The lawsuits focus on the gunman and the companies that he regularly interacted with leading up to the shooting. Each company, the lawsuits claim, took part in ‘grooming’ the teenager to become a mass shooter.
Playing video games or interacting with technology does not directly cause someone to become a mass shooter.
The families of Uvalde school shooting victims are suing Meta and Call of Duty developer Activision over allegations that they promoted the use of firearms to underage boys.
Activision is accused of training and habituating kids to kill.
The shooter was allegedly being courted through explicit, aggressive marketing on Instagram showing hundreds of images depicting and venerating combat.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
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Deception
(30%)
The article makes several deceptive statements and implications. The author implies that the game 'trained' the shooter to use a firearm, but there is no evidence provided in the article to support this claim. The author also uses emotional manipulation by implying that video game companies are responsible for promoting violence and causing real-world harm, despite research showing otherwise. Additionally, the author selectively reports details that support her position (the shooter's use of Call of Duty) while ignoring other relevant information (Section 230 immunization for platforms from civil lawsuits). The article also makes a false claim about Meta's rules theoretically banning companies from selling guns on its platforms, when in fact the gunman purchased the AR-15 from Daniel Defense's website and not through Instagram.
The families of the victims killed in the Uvalde, Texas school shooting are suing Meta and Call of Duty developer Activision over allegations that they promoted the use of firearms to underage boys. The lawsuit claims both companies “knowingly exposed the Shooter to the weapon, conditioned him to see it as the solution to his problems, and trained him to use it.”
Companies like Instagram and Activision do more than just allow gun companies to reach consumers — they underwrite and mainstream violence to struggling adolescents.
The shooter was being courted through explicit, aggressive marketing on Instagram that showed “hundreds of images depicting and venerating the thrill of combat.”
Activision should stop training and habituating kids to kill.
Fallacies
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None Found At Time Of
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The author, Emma Roth, demonstrates clear bias by framing the companies and their products as the cause of a tragic event without providing any evidence to support this claim. She uses loaded language such as 'grooming', 'putting them on a path toward violent acts', and 'training kids to kill'. The author also makes assumptions about the relationship between video games and real-world violence, despite research showing that there is no causal link.
Activision should stop training and habituating kids to kill.
Companies like Instagram and Activision do more than just allow gun companies to reach consumers – they underwrite and mainstream violence to struggling adolescents.
The families of the victims killed in the Uvalde, Texas school shooting are suing Meta and Call of Duty developer Activision over allegations that they promoted the use of firearms to underage boys. The lawsuit claims both companies ‘knowingly exposed the Shooter to the weapon, conditioned him to see it as the solution to his problems, and trained him to use it.’
The shooter was being courted through explicit, aggressive marketing on Instagram that showed ‘Hundreds of images depicting and venerating the thrill of combat.’
On May 24, 2022, an 18-year-old with a rifle ended Jackie Cazares’ dreams and stopped the clock on a town in Uvalde.
Accuracy
The families of the victims announced their settlement with the city but stated it was not about the money.
Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation is building a new state-of-the-art school, relying on mostly private donations and hoping to complete construction by fall 2025.
Families in Uvalde filed lawsuits against Meta Platforms, which owns Instagram, and the maker of the video game ‘Call of Duty’ on the second anniversary of the Robb Elementary School attack.
The lawsuit against Georgia-based gun-maker Daniel Defense was filed by the same group of 19 families who sued on Wednesday.
Activision Blizzard, the maker of ‘Call of Duty’, and Meta were sued for allegedly exposing the gunman to content that conditioned him to see the weapon as a tool to solve problems and trained him to use it.
The Uvalde shooter had played versions of ‘Call of Duty’ since he was 15, including one that allowed him to effectively practice with the version of the rifle he used at the school.
The families also accused Instagram of doing little to enforce its rules that ban marketing firearms and harmful content to children.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
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Publication
Deception
(30%)
The article makes several statements that imply or claim facts without providing clear evidence or linking to peer-reviewed studies. For example, the statement 'The families also accused Instagram of doing little to enforce its rules that ban marketing firearms and harmful content to children.' does not provide any evidence of this accusation. Additionally, the article makes several statements about the role of video games in radicalizing or influencing mass shooters without providing any scientific evidence to support this claim. The statement 'The amount of damages sought in the new lawsuits was not immediately clear' is also an example of selective reporting as it only mentions the new lawsuits and does not mention the previous lawsuit filed against Daniel Defense. Lastly, there are emotional manipulation and sensationalism in phrases such as 'deadliest school shootings in U.S. history', 'senseless act of violence', and 'pure evil'.
The amount of damages sought in the new lawsuits was not immediately clear.
The families also accused Instagram of doing little to enforce its rules that ban marketing firearms and harmful content to children.
Fallacies
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The author makes an appeal to authority when quoting Josh Koskoff's statement that there is a direct line between the conduct of these companies and the Uvalde shooting. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing Daniel Defense's marketing as 'explicit, aggressive', and accusing Instagram of doing 'little to enforce its rules'.
“There is a direct line between the conduct of these companies and the Uvalde shooting.”
“Simultaneously, on Instagram, the shooter was being courted through explicit, aggressive marketing.”
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