Senator Josh Hawley says he will investigate Meta after a report on its AI policy allowing sensual chats with kids, tells Meta to produce docs by September 19
Meta has clearly cleaned up its act. [image] Forums: r/technology : Meta backtracks on rules letting chatbots be creepy to kids
The episode sits at the intersection of child safety and AI companions: subsequent coverage shows scrutiny spreading to other chatbot providers and to claims about how such products are presented to vulnerable users.
First-order effects
Meta must preserve, assemble, and produce the requested materials by September 19, putting its chatbot-policy design, review, and enforcement processes under congressional scrutiny.
Hawley gains a documented basis for deciding whether to escalate the matter through hearings or additional legislative action.
Second-order effects
Other AI chatbot operators face pressure to review child-facing roleplay rules, testing, and policy documentation, since Meta's response can establish what investigators expect to see.
If lawmakers and regulators continue to treat companion-style chatbot conduct as a child-safety issue, governance will shift from high-level AI principles toward auditable product rules, age safeguards, and internal-policy accountability.
The likely structural fault line is whether national rules can supersede a growing set of state-level approaches; Meta's later support for KOSA alongside federal AI-law preemption language illustrates that regulatory alignment can become a strategic issue for platforms.
The trend: AI companion governance is moving from voluntary safety commitments toward document-based oversight of how conversational products behave around minors.
More reasons to despise Zuckerberg- the indifference to child exploitation, and that he made me have a sliver of goodwill towards Josh Hawley [embedded post]
I've long said that Section 230 does not protect generative AI bots like this, which are entirely created by the company, not users. Meta and Zuckerberg should be held fully responsible for any harm these bots cause.
This new reporting further proves Meta is a company that is morally and ethically off the rails. Mark Zuckerberg rushed an unsafe chatbot to a mass market just to keep up with the competition, consequences for its users be damned.
Is there anything - ANYTHING - Big Tech won't do for a quick buck? 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 to get answers. Big Tech: Leave our kids alone [image]
if there is any harms claimed against the company, it's very likely a 230 defense would get laughed out of the courtroom. and the overwhelmingly bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act's duty of care would have restrained the company. Along w/ a real board of directors. 2/2
For those digging into liability for Facebook upon Reuters reports on its policies “allowed its artificial intelligence chatbots to ‘engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual.’” a reminder nearly all school districts and state AG already suing...but here... 1/2
What I want everyone to understand is that this comes after intense calls from Congress and the states to stop addictive social media designs, dozens of lawsuits, and even more aggressive action abroad. This is Meta on its back foot?
It is PAST time for Congress to grow a spine. This is insane. Tell your Senator and Congressman to STOP protecting Big Tech and START protecting the people they serve - especially the most vulnerable amoung us, OUR CHILDREN. Retweet if you agree.
The growing culture of preying on our kids is OUTRAGEOUS. Meta is allowing bots to hold “sensual” chats with CHILDREN!! Are you kidding me? This is sick and twisted. I will not stop until they are held accountable.
Biden officials who were chased out of office have nothing better to do than sit on social media and lie. There is no deal being negotiated with Meta. Don't let these losers fool you.
Under @linamkhan, @FTC fought to ban Meta from profiting off kids. Now, it looks like @AFergusonFTC wants to hand them a sweetheart deal. Makes sense — Meta has clearly cleaned up its act. [image]