(MENAFN) US Senators are investigating Meta, the parent company of Facebook, following reports that its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots could engage children in romantic or sexualized conversations. The probe was announced Friday by Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who chairs a Senate Judiciary subcommittee on crime and counterterrorism, with support from Senator Marsha Blackburn.

Hawley stated that Congress needs to determine whether Meta’s AI products enable exploitation, deception, or other criminal harms toward children, and whether the company misled regulators or the public about its safety measures. He demanded that Meta provide internal documents immediately.

The investigation follows a Reuters report revealing that Meta’s internal AI policies allowed chatbots to flirt with minors. One guideline reportedly permitted bots to describe a child as having a “youthful form [that] is a work of art,” even while technically barring references to under-13s as sexually desirable. An example in the document suggested it would be acceptable for a bot to tell a shirtless eight-year-old, “every inch of you is a masterpiece – a treasure I cherish deeply.”

Meta confirmed the document’s authenticity, stated that it is being revised, and acknowledged that such interactions “never should have been allowed.”

The probe adds to Meta’s ongoing legal and regulatory challenges in the US and Europe over privacy, antitrust, and data practices. Critics have accused the company of prioritizing growth and profits over user safety, including amplifying harmful content and failing to protect personal data, while investing heavily to become a leader in AI.

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