Activision Rebuts Claims Linking Call of Duty to Uvalde Tragedy
Activision Blizzard has filed a robust defense against lawsuits filed by Uvalde school shooting victims' families, vehemently denying any causal link between its Call of Duty franchise and the 2022 tragedy. The May 2024 lawsuits allege the shooter's exposure to Call of Duty's violent content contributed to the massacre.
The devastating Robb Elementary School shooting claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers, injuring 17 more. The 18-year-old shooter, a former Robb Elementary student, was a known Call of Duty player, having downloaded Modern Warfare in November 2021. The lawsuits also implicated Meta, claiming its Instagram platform facilitated the shooter's connection to firearm manufacturers and exposure to AR-15 advertisements—a weapon similar to one depicted in Call of Duty. The families argued that both Activision and Meta fostered a harmful environment that exploited vulnerable youth, indirectly promoting violence.
Activision's December filing, a comprehensive 150-page response, refutes these claims. The company asserts no direct connection exists between Call of Duty and the tragedy, seeking dismissal under California's anti-SLAPP laws designed to protect free speech. The publisher further emphasizes Call of Duty's status as protected free speech under the First Amendment, arguing that accusations based on "hyper-realistic content" violate this fundamental right.
Supporting its defense, Activision submitted expert declarations. Notre Dame professor Matthew Thomas Payne's 35-page statement positions Call of Duty within the tradition of military realism found in established war films and television, countering the lawsuit's "training camp" assertion. Patrick Kelly, Call of Duty's head of creative, contributed a 38-page document detailing the game's design, including the $700 million budget allocated to Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.
The Uvalde families have until late February to respond to Activision's detailed defense. The case's outcome remains uncertain, but it highlights the ongoing societal debate surrounding the link between violent video games and mass shootings.
