U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has launched a formal investigation into Meta Platforms’ artificial intelligence (AI) practices following revelations that its AI chatbots were permitted to engage children in “romantic or sensual” conversations, according to Reuters.
The internal policies, first uncovered by Reuters, have sparked bipartisan concern on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers are demanding answers about how the guidelines were approved and what protections are in place for minors interacting with Meta’s generative AI.
“We intend to learn who approved these policies, how long they were in effect, and what Meta has done to stop this conduct going forward,” Hawley said in a letter sent to Meta on Friday.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, declined to comment directly on Hawley’s probe. However, the company previously said that “the examples and notes in question were and are erroneous and inconsistent with our policies, and have been removed.”
As part of the investigation, Hawley is demanding documents detailing the development and approval of the AI policies, including internal risk assessments related to minors and offline interactions. He’s also requesting records of what Meta has shared with regulators about its safeguards against misuse of generative AI, especially regarding children and sensitive health information.
Hawley, a vocal critic of Big Tech, previously held a hearing in April questioning Meta’s efforts to re-enter the Chinese market—an effort highlighted in a book by former executive Sarah Wynn-Williams.
Meta has faced mounting scrutiny over its AI rollout amid concerns about misinformation, mental health, and youth safety. The current probe could intensify regulatory pressure as Congress considers new guardrails for generative AI technologies.
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