Meta is under fire after leaked docs showed its AI chatbots were allowed to engage in “romantic” and “sensual” talks with children.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) announced a Senate Judiciary probe to investigate if Meta’s generative AI harms kids or deceives them. Hawley’s digging into whether Meta misled regulators about its safety measures.
The leak came via a Reuters report exposing chatbots messaging 8-year-olds with lines like, “Every inch of you is a masterpiece – a treasure I cherish deeply.” 
Meta told TechCrunch those examples violate its policies and have since been removed.
Sen. Hawley wrote in a letter to CEO Mark Zuckerberg:
“It’s unacceptable that these policies were advanced in the first place.”
“We intend to learn who approved these policies, how long they were in effect, and what Meta has done to stop this conduct going forward.”
Hawley, chairing the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, demands Meta hand over all guideline drafts, policy changes, and related safety reports by September 19. He’s also calling for a full list of products following these questioned standards.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) backs the probe:
“When it comes to protecting precious children online, Meta has failed miserably by every possible measure.”
“This report reaffirms why we need to pass the Kids Online Safety Act.”
The controversy adds fuel to the growing scrutiny over Big Tech’s AI safety and ethics around children.
Meta faces pressure to explain how and why these policies slipped through — and what happens next for AI safety on its platforms.
