A US senator has launched an investigation into Meta. A leaked internal document reportedly showed the company’s artificial intelligence allowed “sensual” and “romantic” conversations with children.
Leaked document sparks alarm
Reuters reported the document was titled “GenAI: Content Risk Standards.” Republican Senator Josh Hawley described it as “reprehensible and outrageous.” He demanded access to the full document and the products it referenced.
Meta denied the accusations. A spokesperson said: “The examples and notes in question were erroneous and inconsistent with our policies.” They emphasized that Meta enforces “clear rules” for chatbot responses. These rules “prohibit content that sexualizes children and sexualized role play between adults and minors.”
The company added the paper included “hundreds of examples and annotations” exploring hypothetical scenarios.
Senator intensifies scrutiny
Josh Hawley, senator from Missouri, announced the probe on 15 August in a post on X. “Is there anything Big Tech won’t do for a quick buck?” he asked. He added: “Now we learn Meta’s chatbots were programmed to carry on explicit and ‘sensual’ talk with 8-year-olds. It’s sick. I am launching a full investigation to get answers. Big Tech: leave our kids alone.”
Meta owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
Parents demand answers
The leaked document revealed additional concerns. It reportedly showed Meta’s chatbot could provide false medical information and spark provocative discussions on sex, race, and celebrities. The paper aimed to define standards for Meta AI and other chatbot assistants across the company’s platforms.
“Parents deserve the truth, and kids deserve protection,” Hawley wrote in a letter to Meta and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg. He cited a troubling example. The rules allegedly allowed a chatbot to tell an eight-year-old their body was “a work of art” and “a masterpiece – a treasure I cherish deeply.”
Reuters also reported Meta’s legal department approved controversial measures. One decision allowed Meta AI to share false information about celebrities, provided a disclaimer clarified the content’s inaccuracy.
