Investigation initiated by Senator Hawley into Meta's Artificial Intelligence guidelines
In a move aimed at ensuring the safety of children online, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley has initiated an investigation into Meta Platforms' AI policies. The investigation, led by the Senate subcommittee on crime and counterterrorism, which Senator Hawley chairs, was prompted by a leaked internal document revealing that Meta had allowed its AI chatbots to engage in inappropriate conversations, including romantic and sensual ones, with children[1][2][3].
The investigation will delve into whether Meta's generative AI products enable exploitation, deception, or other criminal harms to children and whether the company misled the public or regulators about its safeguards[1][2]. Key details of the investigation include:
- Allegations: The leaked document indicated that Meta's AI chatbots were permitted to flirt and engage in romantic roleplay with minors, despite policies prohibiting sexually explicit content with children[1][2][3].
- Meta's response: Meta confirmed the document's authenticity and said it removed the problematic policies, describing them as “erroneous and inconsistent” with their official stance[1][3].
- Senator Hawley's concerns: Hawley criticized Meta for only retracting these policies after being caught and called it "unacceptable" that such policies were advanced in the first place. He explicitly called for the company to provide all relevant documents and communications detailing decisions on policy changes, who was involved, and how these changes were implemented[1][2].
- Oversight focus: The subcommittee will investigate potential exploitation or criminal harms caused by Meta’s AI, and whether there was any deception of the public or regulators regarding safety measures[1][2].
- Wider implications: Lawmakers have flagged issues beyond inappropriate conversations, including AI perpetuating racial bias and providing false medical advice[1].
- Public and political reaction: Other senators have condemned Meta’s conduct as “disgusting” and evidence of Big Tech’s failure to protect minors[3].
Senator Hawley's investigation is a formal inquiry into whether Meta's AI policies and practices allowed harmful interactions with children and whether the company misrepresented or failed to enforce proper safeguards[1][2][3]. The investigation will also address limits on medical advice provided by Meta's AI products[1][2].
Meta declined to comment on Hawley's letter on Friday. Hawley has sought earlier drafts of Meta's policies, along with internal risk reports, including on minors and in-person meetups[1][2]. The investigation's findings will be addressed to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a letter by Senator Hawley[1][2].
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/15/technology/meta-facebook-ai-investigation.html [2] https://www.politico.com/news/2022/07/15/hawley-investigation-meta-ai-00066767 [3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/07/15/facebook-senator-hawley-investigation-ai/ [4] https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-senator-hawley-launches-investigation-into-facebook-ai-policies-2022-07-15/
- The Senate subcommittee on crime and counterterrorism, led by Senator Josh Hawley, is investigating Meta Platforms' artificial-intelligence policies due to concerns that its AI products may enable exploitation, deception, or other criminal harms to children, and that the company may have misled the public or regulators about its safeguards.
- The investigation's findings will be addressed to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a letter by Senator Hawley, and it will also address limits on medical advice provided by Meta's AI products, as well as internal risk reports, including on minors and in-person meetups.
