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On 24 May 2024, the families of the victims of the 2022 Uvalde school shooting filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Los Angeles superior court against Activision Blizzard (the publisher of the “Call of Duty” video game) and Meta (Instagram’s parent company). They accuse the companies of enabling firearms marketing and promoting violent behaviour through video games. The lawsuit argues that platforms like Instagram and video games like "Call of Duty" fostered a harmful environment that contributed to the tragedy. The lawsuit is ongoing.

Legal argument

The lawsuit argues that the weapon manufacturer, Daniel Defense, used Instagram (part of Meta) and the video game Call of Duty, created by Activision Blizzard to market its rifles to teenage boys. It further claims that ‘Instagram’s poor oversight of its platform gives gun manufacturers “an unsupervised channel to speak directly to minors”’. Meta does not allow gunmakers to directly purchase ads promoting their weapons but gives them the ability to create and post on their own Facebook and Instagram accounts.

In a statement, Activision rejected the allegations.

The claims focus on wrongful death and the companies’ role in creating a dangerous environment for minors.

Legal Proceedings

On 24 May 2024, the families of the victims of the 2022 Uvalde school shooting filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Los Angeles superior court against Activision Blizzard (the publisher of the “Call of Duty” video game) and Meta (Instagram’s parent company). They accuse the companies of enabling firearms marketing and promoting violent behaviour through video games. The lawsuit argues that platforms like Instagram and video games like "Call of Duty" fostered a harmful environment that contributed to the tragedy. The lawsuit is ongoing.

News items

Uvalde families sue Meta and ‘Call of Duty’ publisher over alleged links to gun violence, Politico, 24 May 2024

Court documents

Complaint, 24 May 2024