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In a shocking incident from Florida, a 13-year-old student was arrested after he allegedly typed a chilling question into OpenAI’s ChatGPT during class. The student reportedly asked the chatbot, “How to kill my friend in the middle of class,” while using a school-issued device.

According to a report by NBC-affiliate WFLA, the message was immediately detected by Gaggle, an artificial intelligence-based monitoring system used in schools across the United States to track potential threats or concerning behaviour. The system instantly alerted school officials and law enforcement officers, prompting an immediate response.

“Just a Joke” That Went Too Far

A school resource officer from Southwestern Middle School in Deland arrived in the classroom shortly after receiving the alert. The officer questioned the student, who claimed that he was “just trolling” a friend and had no real intentions of causing harm.

However, officials did not take the incident lightly, especially given the rise in school-related violence in the United States. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the boy was detained and booked at a juvenile detention facility. Footage circulating on social media showed the teenager being escorted by police in handcuffs, sparking widespread discussion about digital surveillance and online accountability among minors.

Authorities emphasised that even online comments made in jest can have serious consequences. The sheriff’s office said in a statement, “Another ‘joke’ that created an emergency on campus. Parents, please talk to your kids so they don’t make the same mistake.” he case has reignited conversations about the growing role of AI monitoring tools in schools and how they balance safety with privacy concerns.

How Gaggle Helped To Track?

Gaggle is a AI safety management platform installed on school devices across the US It uses machine learning to detect language or activity that could indicate self-harm, violence, or other safety threats. Once flagged, the alert is sent to school administrators and, if deemed serious, to law enforcement agencies.

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While supporters credit Gaggle for helping prevent potential school tragedies, netizens argue that such systems create a “surveillance culture” and invade students’ privacy. Several reports in recent years have highlighted instances where false alarms triggered unnecessary panic among parents and staff.

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The Florida incident highights that how quickly an online remark can escalate into a criminal case—especially in a country still grappling with the trauma of repeated school shootings.