A US senator has launched an investigation into Meta Platforms following revelations from a leaked internal document that allegedly showed the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) systems were allowed to engage in “sensual” and “romantic” conversations with children.
The internal Meta document, reportedly titled “GenAI: Content Risk Standards”, was obtained by Reuters and outlines troubling details about the tech giant’s AI chatbot policies. In response, Republican Senator Josh Hawley has called the document “reprehensible and outrageous,” demanding access to the full text and a comprehensive list of Meta products that fall under the scope of the guidance.
Meta, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, issued a statement to the BBC in response to the allegations. A spokesperson claimed, “The examples and notes in question were and are erroneous and inconsistent with our policies, and have been removed.” The company insisted it maintains “clear policies” that strictly forbid responses from its AI chatbots that sexualize children or engage in sexualized role play between adults and minors.
However, the spokesperson acknowledged that the internal document included “hundreds of examples, notes, and annotations” that stem from internal teams “grappling with different hypothetical scenarios,” indicating that such discussions were part of broader development efforts, even if not intended for public deployment.
Senator Hawley, representing Missouri, announced his investigation in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on August 15. “Is there anything – ANYTHING – Big Tech won’t do for a quick buck?” he asked. “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.”
The controversial document also reportedly states that Meta AI could offer false medical information and participate in provocative conversations on sensitive subjects such as sex, race, and celebrities. These internal standards are said to guide Meta’s generative AI assistant, Meta AI, and other chatbot technologies deployed across the company’s platforms.
Hawley, in a formal letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, emphasized that “Parents deserve the truth, and kids deserve protection.” One particularly disturbing example cited in the letter involves a chatbot allegedly describing an eight-year-old’s body as “a work of art” and saying “every inch… is a masterpiece – a treasure I cherish deeply.”
Reuters further reported that certain actions were allegedly cleared by Meta’s legal department, including allowing Meta AI to knowingly distribute false claims about celebrities, as long as a disclaimer is provided to state the information is not accurate.
The findings have intensified scrutiny on Meta’s AI policies and ethical standards, especially as public concern grows over the safety and integrity of generative AI systems used by millions of young users.
