Lawmakers from both parties are slamming Meta over disturbing revelations tied to its AI chatbots. The controversy centers on internal documents, obtained by Reuters, that showed Meta’s AI chatbot policy once allowed “romantic or sensual” conversations with children. Meta admitted the examples were wrong and have since been removed.
Sen. Josh Hawley didn’t hold back, calling it “grounds for an immediate congressional investigation.” He sent a letter to CEO Mark Zuckerberg, announcing that the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism will launch a probe.
“It’s unacceptable that these policies were advanced in the first place,” Hawley said.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn echoed his concerns, stating, “When it comes to protecting precious children online, Meta has failed miserably by every possible measure.” Her spokesperson confirmed she supports an investigation.
Sen. Brian Schatz took to social media, posting, “META Chat Bots that basically hit on kids – f**k that. This is disgusting and evil.” Sen. Ron Wyden weighed in, too, saying Meta is “morally and ethically off the rails.”
ParentsTogether’s Shelby Knox said, “Meta has created a digital grooming ground,” warning that no child should be told “age is just a number” by AI.
Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said the company has “clear policies” against sexualizing children, noting that the controversial chatbot examples were part of hypothetical scenarios and have been removed.
This latest scandal renews long-standing concerns about children’s safety on Meta platforms, now complicated further by AI’s growing influence.
