Republican and Democratic politicians criticize Meta for their AI chatbots engaging in adult discussions with minors
Meta Faces Intensified Scrutiny Over AI Chatbots and Child Safety
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is under growing pressure from U.S. lawmakers and regulators following revelations that its AI chatbots were permitting inappropriate conversations with children.
The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), a leading legislative proposal aimed at enhancing child protection on digital platforms, has gained momentum in response to these concerns. Senators are calling for Meta to implement stronger child protections, parental controls, and options for underage users to disable addictive or harmful features.
Criticism of Meta's safety measures has been widespread. Despite introducing mechanisms such as making teen profiles private by default, verifying ages, restricting private messaging, and limiting sensitive content exposure, lawmakers and experts argue these efforts are insufficient given ongoing reports of harmful chatbot interactions with minors.
Technology policy experts are advocating for stricter regulation, including bans on AI companions for minors unless companies demonstrate transparency in safety testing. They argue that AI companions pose distinct risks beyond traditional social media.
Investigations into Meta's AI Studio have been launched by the Texas Attorney General, California, and coalitions of state attorneys general. Concerns include deceptive marketing of AI chatbots as mental health tools, privacy violations, and exposing children to potentially harmful content.
Senators have formally questioned Meta about its AI chatbot policies, seeking answers on content moderation, safety policy development, and steps to prevent children from forming unhealthy substitutive relationships with AI. They are also demanding transparency regarding whether children are clearly informed when chatting with AI personas rather than real humans.
The situation at Meta reflects larger issues in the tech industry where AI chatbots are becoming integrated into widely used platforms, increasing the risk of involuntary exposure of children to AI companions that may produce discriminatory or unsafe content.
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has stated that Meta's actions call for another investigation, as he already has an ongoing investigation into Meta's complicity with China. Hawley believes that Big Tech will continue to have no boundaries until Congress holds social media outlets accountable.
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) has stated that the report shows the need for lawmakers to pass reforms to better protect children online. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) has expressed similar sentiments, stating that the report highlights the importance of safeguards for AI, especially when the safety of children is at risk.
Meta has acknowledged the errors in the internal policy document that came to light, stating that it does not accurately reflect their policies. They have confirmed the authenticity of the document but have removed portions that allowed for such chatbot behavior with children.
The stock price of Meta Platforms Inc. (META) has decreased by 1.83% in response to these revelations.
Sources:
[1] Fox News Digital [2] Reuters [3] Texas Attorney General [4] Senators' letters to Meta [5] Coalitions of state attorneys general
