Lawsuits filed by families of victims in Uvalde school shooting against Meta and Microsoft's Activision

The lawsuits claim that the three parties collaborated in promoting the sale of weapons, specifically targeting teenagers like the Uvalde shooter. The Uvalde school shooting, which occurred exactly two years ago at Robb Elementary School, saw an 18-year-old former student unleash terror by using an AR-15 rifle manufactured by Daniel Defense. This brutal attack resulted in the tragic loss of 19 students and two teachers, making it one of the deadliest school shootings in history.

The lawsuits allege that Meta's social media platform Instagram and Activision's popular video game series, Call of Duty, played a significant role in promoting weapons such as assault rifles manufactured by Daniel Defense to adolescent boys. According to Josh Koskoff, partner at Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder and attorney for the families, there is a direct connection between the actions of these companies and the devastating Uvalde shooting. The legal complaints against Meta and Microsoft-owned Activision were filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

The lawsuits argue that these companies, through their products which boast millions of teenage users, facilitated firearm manufacturers' efforts to expand their market by providing direct access to children around-the-clock. The lawsuit specifically calls out Meta's Instagram for enabling gunmakers to communicate directly with minors, even during late hours. Seeking Alpha reached out to Meta for comment, but they did not respond immediately.

On the other hand, the lawsuit against Activision focuses on the first-person gameplay style of the Call of Duty series, alleging that it immerses teenage boys in a hyper-realistic and addictive world of violence where killing is portrayed with terrifying ease. An Activision spokesperson expressed condolences to the families impacted by the Uvalde shooting and emphasized that millions of people worldwide enjoy video games without resorting to violence. In a separate case filed in Uvalde County District Court, Daniel Defense is accused of leveraging social media and first-person shooter simulations to entice teenagers to visit their website.

The gunmaker has not responded to Seeking Alpha's request for comment at this time. The legal actions taken by these law firms aim to shed light on the role that corporations play in influencing young minds and potentially contributing to acts of violence. The families of the Uvalde school shooting victims seek justice and accountability from these companies for their alleged involvement in promoting and normalizing the use of deadly weapons among teenagers.

The lawsuits serve as a reminder of the responsibility that businesses have in safeguarding the well-being of society, especially when it comes to marketing products that can have profound consequences.