US Senators Demand Congressional Probe of Meta Over AI Policy Concerns

US senators call for a congressional probe into Meta Platforms following a report on an internal policy document that allowed AI chatbots to engage in conversations with children that were romantic or sensual.

U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) have called for a congressional probe into Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) following a Reuters report that revealed an internal policy document allowing the company's AI chatbots to engage in romantic or sensual conversations with children. The report sparked immediate backlash from senators and raised concerns over online child safety and AI regulation [1].

The Reuters report detailed an internal Meta document that permitted AI chatbots to engage in such conversations, which Meta subsequently retracted after the report was published. A Meta spokesperson confirmed the authenticity of the document but stated that the controversial portions were removed following the Reuters inquiry [2]. The company's policies prohibit content that sexualizes children and sexualized role-play between adults and minors [3].

Senator Blackburn used this incident to highlight the need for passing reforms to better protect children online, specifically mentioning the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). KOSA aims to establish a "duty of care" for social media companies regarding minors using their products [2]. The controversy has reignited discussions about the regulation of AI and the responsibilities of tech companies [2].

This incident adds to Meta's troubled history regarding child safety on its platforms. Senator Blackburn stated, "When it comes to protecting precious children online, Meta has failed miserably by every possible measure. Even worse, the company has turned a blind eye to the devastating consequences of how its platforms are designed" [2].

As the controversy unfolds, it is clear that Meta and other tech giants developing AI technologies will face increased scrutiny and potential regulatory action to ensure the safety of minors online. The lack of federal laws regulating AI has led to state legislation, including bans on using AI to make child sexual abuse material [2].

References:
[1] https://seekingalpha.com/news/4485903-us-senators-call-for-congressional-meta-probe-after-report-on-ai-policies
[2] https://theoutpost.ai/news-story/us-senators-call-for-meta-investigation-over-ai-chatbot-policies-involving-children-19107/
[3] https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate/3500575/hawley-investigation-meta-sensual-ai-conversations-children/