Meta Under Fire Over AI Policy Permitting ‘Sensual’ Chatbot Conversations with Minors
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is facing intense backlash from U.S. lawmakers after reports revealed its AI chatbots were allowed to engage in “romantic or sensual” conversations with children, according to internal documents leaked to Reuters.
The controversial guidelines reportedly authorized AI chatbots to flirt and participate in romantic roleplay with minors, stirring uproar across the political spectrum. Reuters stated it had reviewed an internal Meta policy document sanctioning these interactions, including the capability for chatbots to generate false medical information and racially biased statements. Meta confirmed the document’s authenticity but stated that it has since removed the problematic portions addressing romantic engagement with children.
Senators Demand Immediate Investigation
Two U.S. senators from opposing parties, Republican Josh Hawley of Missouri and Democrat Brian Schatz of Hawaii, publicly condemned Meta’s AI policy in strong terms. Hawley called for congressional action, asserting that the company only retracted the policy after being exposed. He described the original guidelines as “grounds for an immediate congressional investigation.”
Senator Schatz labeled the policy as “disgusting and evil” and expressed disbelief that Meta’s teams—including legal, public policy, engineering departments, and the company’s chief ethicist—had approved these rules. “My head is exploding knowing that multiple people approved this,” Schatz wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Additional Lawmakers Echo Concerns
Other legislators joined the chorus of criticism against Meta. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) described Meta’s exploitation of children as “absolutely disgusting,” emphasizing the company’s failure to protect underage users despite repeated promises. The revelations have intensified calls for greater oversight of Big Tech companies’ AI and data policies, particularly concerning minors’ safety online.
Meta’s Response and Next Steps
Meta acknowledged the existence of the leaked policy but said allowing chatbots to “engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual” should never have been permitted. The company is revising its internal guidelines to avoid such problematic permissions in the future. Details around how the updated policies will be enforced or monitored have not been disclosed publicly yet.
Experts and child advocacy groups have expressed concern that the AI technology could be used to attract children to Meta’s platforms by leveraging psychological and neurological insights, a tactic that has drawn criticism for potentially fostering addiction and unsafe interactions.
Broader AI Ethics Implications
This controversy adds to ongoing debates on the ethical boundaries for AI-driven interactions, especially involving vulnerable populations such as children. The combination of AI capabilities with content moderation challenges has led to discussions about stricter regulatory frameworks and accountability measures for technology companies developing advanced chatbots and conversational AIs.
As lawmakers call for investigations, the outcome may influence future legislation targeting AI safety and children’s protection online. Meanwhile, Meta faces intensified scrutiny for how it balances innovation with ethical responsibility.
Reported on August 15, 2025.