Facebook’s parent company, Meta, is under fire following the leak of an internal document suggesting its artificial intelligence (AI) systems were permitted to engage in “sensual” and “romantic” conversations with children.
The document, titled GenAI: Content Risk Standards and obtained by Reuters, triggered strong condemnation from U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, who called the revelations “reprehensible and outrageous.” Hawley has demanded access to the complete document and a list of all products involved.
Meta has denied the allegations. A company spokesperson said, “The examples and notes in question were and are erroneous and inconsistent with our policies, and have been removed.” The spokesperson emphasized that Meta maintains strict policies forbidding any AI responses that sexualize children or enable sexualized role-play between adults and minors.
They explained that some internal notes reflected teams “grappling with different hypothetical scenarios,” but stressed these did not represent official policy.
Senator Hawley has announced a formal investigation, accusing Meta of putting profits ahead of child safety. “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,” he wrote on X.
The leaked document also reportedly exposed other concerning issues, including Meta’s AI providing false medical advice and engaging in provocative discussions on sensitive topics such as sex, race, and celebrities. It suggested the AI could even spread misinformation about public figures, provided it included disclaimers about the content’s accuracy.
“Parents deserve the truth, and kids deserve protection,” Hawley wrote in a letter addressed to Meta and CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Meta, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, has yet to confirm the full scope of the leaked report.
