Senator Launches Investigation
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., announced an investigation into Meta after a report alleged the company approved internal guidelines permitting its AI chatbots to have “romantic” and “sensual” conversations with children. Hawley has requested Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg preserve all relevant communications and materials, stating the probe will assess whether Meta’s generative AI products facilitate exploitation, deception, or other criminal harm to minors, and whether the company misled the public or regulators about safety measures.
Details of the Allegations
According to a Reuters report, internal documents outlined acceptable chatbot interactions, including telling an eight-year-old, “every inch of you is a masterpiece – a treasure I cherish deeply,” and describing a child’s “youthful form” as a work of art. While the guidelines prohibited explicit sexual language with children under 13, they allowed remarks that referenced a child’s attractiveness. Hawley said the investigation aims to determine who authorized these standards, how long they were in effect, and what actions have been taken to remove them.
Meta’s Response
A Meta spokesperson told Reuters that the examples in question were “erroneous and inconsistent” with company policy, have been removed, and that current policies ban content that sexualizes children or involves sexualized roleplay between adults and minors. Hawley, however, has demanded extensive documentation, including details on generative AI content standards, product lists governed by those policies, safety reports, incident records, and internal communications related to minor protection.
Next Steps in the Probe
The investigation will be conducted by the Senate Committee Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, chaired by Hawley. Meta has until September 19 to provide the requested documents. The senator emphasized the need to trace the “decision trail” regarding the removal or revision of the AI chatbot standards, citing broader concerns about Big Tech’s willingness to prioritize profit over child safety.