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AI firm Character.AI is facing backlash after using the likeness of Jennifer Ann Crecente, an 18-year-old murder victim from 2006, in a video game without her family’s consent. The company said that the character violated its policies against impersonation and removed the character.
Drew Crecente, Jennifer’s father, received an automated Google alert that an AI version of his daughter had been created with Character.AI around 4.30 a.m on Wednesday. After clicking the link, Character.AI described her AI-likeness as “a knowledgeable and friendly AI character who can provide information on a wide range of topics, including video games, technology, and pop culture.”
“We should not have to see this message first thing in the morning and then scramble to clean up a mess someone else created,” Crecente told ADWEEK. Jennifer was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend, Justin Crabbe, during her senior year in 2006, according to media reports.
A spokesperson from Character.AI told ADWEEK that one of its users created a character using Jennifer’s likeness and made it available to others, violating its policies. According to these policies, Character.AI is not responsible for how users source data to create characters.
“We will examine whether further action is warranted,” the spokesperson said.
The incident first surfaced on X when Brian Crecente, founder of the gaming news site Kotaku, condemned Character.AI on Wednesday after discovering the unauthorized character modeled after his late niece.
“This is fucking disgusting,” he wrote.