Equality Florida debuts chatbot for abortion

Equality Florida, an LGTBQ+ advocacy organization, has battled Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled legislature over abortion restriction legislation that has banned the procedure in the state after six weeks. Now they’ve enlisted a chatbot in their fight. The organization is promoting Charley, designed by a team of reproductive health experts and abortion advocates. 

It’s meant to help abortion seekers get information. The chatbot, created by several reproductive rights and justice organizations, is another example of politicians and advocacy groups using chatbots for their aims. Available in English and Spanish, users can ask Charley specific questions about where they can get an abortion in their area. All interactions with the chatbot are guaranteed anonymous. 

In an email promoting the bot, Equality Florida’s Yordanos Molla encouraged people to share Charley with friends and family. “Your voice can make a difference: By sharing Charley, you're helping safeguard reproductive freedoms and autonomy,” she wrote. “Let’s ensure that everyone has access to the reliable, confidential information they need.” 

Andrew Shirvell, executive director of Florida Voice for the Unborn, countered that it was “unsurprising that the abortion industry … tell(s) its customers how to evade laws designed to not only protect innocent life in the womb but also to protect women from a lifetime of regret.” He told City & State his group “encourages all law enforcement authorities to investigate whether the pro-abortion operators of Charley are breaking any laws, and if so, to hold the perpetrators accountable.”