Republican Senators Josh Hawley (Missouri) and Marsha Blackburn (Tennessee) have called for an immediate investigation into Meta Platforms after a Reuters report revealed an internal document allowing AI-powered chatbots to engage in “romantic or sensual” conversations with children. Meta confirmed the authenticity of the document but stated it removed the parts permitting such flirtatious or romantic interactions with children. Senator Hawley, via X platform, noted that Meta only reversed these policies after the issue was discovered, calling for an immediate investigation. Senator Blackburn criticized Meta’s failure to protect children online and emphasized the need to pass reforms like the Children’s Online Safety Act (KOSA), which imposes a duty of care on social media companies to protect minors. Senator Ron Wyden (Democrat from Oregon) described these policies as concerning and wrong, demanding Meta be held accountable for any harm caused by these chatbots.

Senator Peter Welch (Democrat from Vermont) stressed the importance of strict AI regulations to protect children. Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is under increasing scrutiny over its AI policies, especially following reports revealing controversial practices in managing chatbots.