A US senator has opened an investigation into Meta. A leaked internal document reportedly showed the company’s artificial intelligence allowed “sensual” and “romantic” conversations with children.
Leaked report sparks outrage
Reuters reported the document was titled “GenAI: Content Risk Standards.” Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican, described it as “reprehensible and outrageous.” He demanded access to the full document and the list of products it referenced.
Meta denied the allegations. A spokesperson said: “The examples and notes in question were erroneous and inconsistent with our policies.” They stressed Meta enforced “clear rules” for chatbot responses. Those rules “prohibit content that sexualizes children and sexualized role play between adults and minors.”
The company added the paper contained “hundreds of examples and annotations” created to test hypothetical scenarios.
Senator takes action
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 WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook.
Parents raise concerns
The leaked report revealed other troubling risks. It reportedly showed Meta’s chatbot could spread false medical information and spark controversial discussions on sex, race, and celebrities. The paper was intended to guide standards for Meta AI and other chatbot assistants across company platforms.
“Parents deserve the truth, and kids deserve protection,” Hawley wrote in a letter to Meta and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg. He pointed to one disturbing case. 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 that Meta’s legal department approved controversial permissions. One decision allowed Meta AI to share false information about celebrities, provided a disclaimer clarified the inaccuracy.
