A 13-year-old Florida student was arrested after using a school laptop to ask ChatGPT how to kill his friend during class. The incident prompted an immediate response from the school’s security system, which alerted authorities and led to the teenager’s arrest. Authorities took the incident seriously due to the US history of school shootings.
The school’s Gaggle AI-powered surveillance system detected the student’s question and sent an alert to the assigned police officer. The officer apprehended the student at Southwestern Middle School in DeLand, about an hour north of Orlando.
Some experts are questioning whether the incident was a prank or a real threat. The student initially claimed he was joking with his friend but officials did not take it lightly. In light of the US’s history of school shootings, such as the Parkland massacre, authorities have warned parents to monitor their children’s online activities and ordered them to talk to their kids about online safety.
The school’s Gaggle system has been criticized for its effectiveness in detecting worrisome behaviors but also for its potential to lead to false alerts and create a surveillance state-like environment.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/next/2025/10/08/florida-teenager-arrested-after-asking-chatgpt-how-to-kill-his-friend