Meta is under scrutiny following reports that its AI chatbots may have engaged in “sensual” and “romantic” conversations with children. The controversy emerged after Reuters obtained a leaked internal document titled “GenAI: Content Risk Standards.”
Alarming Allegations Spark Outrage
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) announced a formal investigation on August 15 after reviewing the leaked materials. He described the contents as “reprehensible and outrageous,” demanding access to the full document and details of all products it relates to.
“Is there anything—ANYTHING—Big Tech won’t do for a quick buck?” Hawley posted on X. “Now we learn Meta’s chatbots were programmed to carry on explicit and ‘sensual’ talk with 8-year-olds. It’s sick. I’m launching a full investigation. Big Tech: Leave our kids alone.”
Meta, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, responded by denying the allegations and stating that the examples in question were erroneous.
Meta’s Response: ‘Examples Were Inconsistent with Policy’
“The examples and notes in question were and are erroneous and inconsistent with our policies, and have been removed.”
Meta insists it has strict content policies that prohibit the sexualisation of children and any role-play between adults and minors. The company stated that the document included hypothetical scenarios that teams were analysing, not permitted chatbot behaviours.
Leaked Document Raises Broader Concerns
Beyond the allegations involving children, the leaked policy reportedly reveals that Meta AI may provide inaccurate medical information and allow provocative conversations on sensitive topics like sex, race, and celebrities.
Senator Hawley referenced a disturbing example from the document in a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg:
“Your internal rules purportedly permit an AI chatbot to comment that an eight-year-old’s body is ‘a work of art’ of which ‘every inch… is a masterpiece—a treasure I cherish deeply.'”
Other reportedly accepted practices include AI being allowed to spread false celebrity information, provided it adds a disclaimer noting its inaccuracy—a decision allegedly supported by Meta’s legal department.
Public Outcry Grows
As the investigation unfolds, parents and child safety advocates are demanding transparency and accountability from Meta.
“Parents deserve the truth, and kids deserve protection,” Senator Hawley emphasised.
With growing global concerns about AI ethics and safety, the outcome of this investigation could set a critical precedent for how tech giants develop and regulate AI interactions—especially when it involves children.
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