POLITICS NEWS – Senators call for congressional investigation into Meta after AI chatbot shows sensual and romantic interactions with children

Ananya Roy, News Writer

Two Republican U.S. senators are pushing for a congressional investigation into Meta Platforms after a Reuters report revealed an internal company document permitting AI chatbots to engage children in romantic or sensual conversations. Meta confirmed the document’s authenticity and said it removed the controversial sections after being questioned.  However, senators Josh Hawley and Marsha Blackburn called the policy “grounds for immediate investigation” and a failure to protect children online.

The report has reignited debate over AI safeguards and children’s online safety. Blackburn emphasized the need for laws like the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which would impose a clear “duty of care” on social media companies regarding minors.  Additionally,Democrat Senators Ron Wyden and Peter Welch stressed that Section 230 protections should not shield AI platforms from liability. Meta maintained that the examples in the document were inconsistent with company policy and have been removed, but lawmakers argue the revelations highlight persistent risks in the design and oversight of generative AI.