GOP Senators demand Meta investigation after AI chatbot child safety scandal

Two Republican senators are calling for a congressional investigation into Meta Platforms after Reuters revealed an internal company document that permitted its AI chatbots to “engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual.” The controversy intensified when Meta confirmed the document’s authenticity but only removed the problematic portions after being questioned by Reuters, prompting lawmakers to demand accountability and renewed calls for child safety legislation.

What you should know: Meta’s internal policy document explicitly allowed chatbots to engage in inappropriate interactions with minors until the company was caught.
• The document permitted chatbots to flirt and engage in romantic roleplay with children, with one example noting it would be acceptable for a bot to tell a shirtless eight-year-old that “every inch of you is a masterpiece – a treasure I cherish deeply.”
• Meta only removed these portions after receiving questions from Reuters earlier this month, not proactively identifying the problematic policies.
• The standards described in the document don’t necessarily reflect “ideal or even preferable” generative AI outputs, according to Meta’s own documentation.

Political response: Both Republican and Democratic senators are expressing outrage and calling for immediate action.
• Senator Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) posted on X: “So, only after Meta got CAUGHT did it retract portions of its company doc. This is grounds for an immediate congressional investigation.”
• Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) supports the investigation and argues the report demonstrates the need to pass the Kids Online Safety Act, which she co-sponsored.
• Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) called the policies “deeply disturbing and wrong,” stating that Section 230 protections shouldn’t extend to generative AI chatbots.

Why this matters: The revelation highlights the urgent need for AI regulation specifically focused on child safety protections.
• Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) emphasized that the report “shows how critical safeguards are for AI — especially when the health and safety of kids is at risk.”
• The Kids Online Safety Act would establish explicit “duty of care” requirements for social media companies regarding minors, focusing on platform design and company regulation.
• In the absence of federal AI laws, states have been passing their own legislation, including bans on using AI to create child sexual abuse material.

What they’re saying: Lawmakers are emphasizing Meta’s pattern of failures in protecting children online.
• “When it comes to protecting precious children online, Meta has failed miserably by every possible measure. Even worse, the company has turned a blind eye to the devastating consequences of how its platforms are designed,” Blackburn said.
• “Meta and Zuckerberg should be held fully responsible for any harm these bots cause,” Wyden stated.

Legislative context: The Senate recently voted 99-1 to remove a provision that would have barred states from passing AI regulation, clearing the path for continued state-level AI governance in the absence of federal action.