Lawsuit filed against Activision and Meta by families of Uvalde shooting victims

The families of victims of the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas are taking legal action against Activision, Meta, and gun manufacturer Daniel Defense. Represented by attorney Josh Koskoff, who previously secured a settlement for the families of Sandy Hook shooting victims, the lawsuit alleges that these companies have collaborated with the firearms industry in a harmful way.

The lawsuit specifically points to Activision’s “Call of Duty” video game franchise as a tool that has helped popularize the AR-15 assault rifle among young consumers. Additionally, it accuses Meta’s Instagram platform of facilitating gun advertising through easily circumvented rules.

Activision responded by expressing sympathy for the families but defended video games, stating that millions of people enjoy them without resorting to violence. The lawsuit claims that the Uvalde shooter was influenced by playing “Call of Duty” and being targeted by Daniel Defense’s advertising on Instagram.

The lawsuit argues that these companies are contributing to the issue of mass shootings by targeting vulnerable teenage boys and promoting gun culture. Despite ongoing debates among politicians about the link between video games and gun violence, a recent review of medical research found no causal connection between playing video games and real-life gun violence.

As the legal battle unfolds, the families of the victims are seeking justice and accountability from these powerful technology and gun manufacturing companies.