Meta investigated over AI having 'sensual' chats with children

[Jim Burton]

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3dpmlvx1k2o

A US senator is opening an investigation into Meta after a leaked document reportedly showed the tech giant's artificial intelligence (AI) was permitted to have "sensual" and "romantic" chats with children.

The internal document, obtained by Reuters, was reportedly titled "GenAI: Content Risk Standards".

Republican Senator Josh Hawley called the document "reprehensible and outrageous" and has asked to see the document alongside a list of products it relates to.

A Meta spokesperson told the BBC: "The examples and notes in question were and are erroneous and inconsistent with our policies, and have been removed."

They said the tech giant has "clear policies" on what responses its AI chatbots can offer, and said its policies "prohibit content that sexualizes children and sexualized role play between adults and minors".