Legislators were concerned after media outlets reported “romantic or sensual” conversations with children facilitated by AI chatbots.
A number of senators reacted to news last week that revealed Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, allowed its AI chatbots to facilitate “romantic or sensual” conversations with children. An internal policy document outlining these decisions was revealed, which Meta later stated had since been eliminated from their guidelines for their AI chatbot for children.
Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri said that the revelations were “grounds for an immediate congressional investigation.” He announced a probe was being launched into the company’s AI policies.
“It’s unacceptable that these policies were advanced in the first place,” Senator Hawley wrote. “Meta must immediately preserve all relevant records and produce responsive documents so Congress can investigate these troubling practices.”
Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon said this scandal shows that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act needs to be updated.
“I’ve long said that Section 230 does not protect generative AI bots like this, which are entirely created by the company, not users,” Senator Wyden stated. “Meta and Zuckerberg should be held fully responsible for any harm these bots cause.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Senators Hawley and Wyden as they look into social media artificial intelligence policies and safeguards for children.
- For wisdom for federal legislators as they reassess Section 230 and the limits on liability for social media companies.
Sources: CNBC, The Hill
