U.S. Senator Josh Hawley announced an investigation on Friday into whether Meta’s AI chatbots were involved in inappropriate and potentially harmful interactions with children. Hawley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, shared a letter addressed to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, requesting all documents and communications related to reports of AI chatbots engaging in “romantic” or “sensual” conversations with minors.
In response, a Meta spokesperson stated that the company enforces strict guidelines prohibiting any AI-generated content that sexualizes children or involves sexualized role-play between adults and minors.
Hawley said the subcommittee would investigate whether Meta’s generative AI tools allow for exploitation, deception, or criminal harm toward minors. He also instructed Meta to preserve all related records and submit them to Congress by September 19.
One cited example involved a Meta AI chatbot reportedly referring to an 8-year-old’s body as “a work of art” and “a treasure I cherish deeply,” raising serious concerns about the platform’s safeguards for child safety.
