Is Character AI secure?

Character AI scores 3/5 for encryption, 2/5 for privacy, and 2/5 for track record. Overall safety score: 2/5.

What are the privacy concerns with Character AI?

Character.AI safety review covering AI chatbot risks for teens, data collection, and content concerns.

Has Character AI been hacked before?

See our detailed analysis of Character AI's past security incidents and track record at The Opt-Out Project.

Is Character AI Safe? Security Review

Name: Is Character AI Safe? Security Review
Item: Character AI
Rating: 2
Author: The Opt-Out Project

Category: Kids & Teens Company: Character Technologies, Inc. Reviewed February 10, 2026

2/5

Overall Safety Score

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Verdict: Character.AI poses unique risks especially for teens: emotional manipulation by AI, collection of intimate conversation data, and content that can bypass safety filters. The platform is not adequately designed for its predominantly young user base.

Character.AI is an AI chatbot platform where users create and talk to AI characters. It has become extremely popular with teens, raising concerns about emotional dependence, inappropriate content, and the collection of deeply personal conversation data.

Security Ratings Breakdown

Category	Score	Rating
Encryption	3/5
Privacy	2/5
Track Record	2/5

Security Features

Content filters for explicit material
Teen-specific safety measures (added after lawsuits)
Reporting tools
Time-spent notifications for teen users

Privacy Concerns

All conversations stored and used to train AI models
Teens share deeply personal thoughts, feelings, and struggles with AI characters
Emotional dependency on AI characters documented
Content filters can be bypassed with creative prompting
Intimate conversation data creates profound privacy risk

Past Security Incidents

2024 lawsuit filed after a 14-year-old's suicide was linked to emotional attachment to a Character.AI chatbot
Reports of AI characters engaging in romantic and sexual roleplay with minors despite filters
Multiple instances of safety filters being bypassed

How to Stay Safe Using Character AI

Parents should monitor teens' use of AI chatbots
Set time limits for AI interaction
Discuss the difference between AI and real human relationships
Watch for signs of emotional dependence on AI characters
Consider blocking the app for younger teens

Safer Alternatives

ChatGPT (more guardrails, enterprise safety)
Actual human interaction and counseling resources

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Last updated: February 10, 2026