Meta probed over AI chatbot exchanges with children
Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, posted a letter to Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg demanding all documents and communications related to reports that the company's AI chatbots engaged in 'romantic' and 'sensual' exchanges with minors.
'We have clear policies on what kind of responses AI characters can offer, and those policies prohibit content that sexualizes children and sexualized role play between adults and minors,' a Meta spokesperson told AFP in response to an inquiry.
Hawley said the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, which he chairs, will investigate whether Meta's generative AI tools 'enable exploitation, deception, or other criminal harms to children.'
Meta has been instructed to preserve all relevant records and provide them to Congress by September 19. Hawley cited one reported example in which a Meta AI chatbot allegedly described an eight-year-old child's body as 'a work of art' and 'a treasure I cherish deeply.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
4 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
US Stops Visitor Visas for People from Gaza
The US State Department on Saturday said it was halting all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza while it conducts "a full and thorough" review. The Department said "a small number" of temporary medical-humanitarian visas had been issued in recent days but did not provide a figure. The US issued more than 3,800 B1/B2 visitor visas, which permit foreigners to seek medical treatment in the United States, to holders of the Palestinian Authority travel document, according to an analysis of monthly figures provided on the department's website. That figure includes 640 visas issued in May. The State Department's move to stop visitor visas for people from Gaza comes after Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and an ally of President Donald Trump, said on social media on Friday that the Palestinian "refugees" had entered the US this month. According to Reuters, Loomer's statement sparked outrage among some Republicans, with US Representative Chip Roy, of Texas, saying he would inquire about the matter and Representative Randy Fine, of Florida, describing it as a "national security risk". Gaza has been devastated by a war that was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel's offensive against Hamas in Gaza since then has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. The US has not indicated that it would accept Palestinians displaced by the war. However, sources told Reuters that South Sudan and Israel are discussing a plan to resettle Palestinians.
Al Arabiya
9 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
US proposed NATO-style joint defense guarantees for Kyiv: Source
The US has proposed security guarantees for Ukraine similar to -- but separate from -- those enjoyed by NATO member countries, a diplomatic source told AFP on Saturday. The suggestion was raised during a call US President Donald Trump held with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders earlier on Saturday, the source said. 'As one of the security guarantees for Ukraine, the American side proposed a non-NATO Article 5 type guarantee, supposedly agreed with (Russian leader Vladimir) Putin,' the diplomatic source said on condition they not be identified in any way. NATO's collective security is based on its Article 5 principle: if one member is attacked, the entire alliance comes to its defense. Trump, Zelenskyy and European leaders -- who included NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte -- spoke early Saturday to discuss Trump's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin held on Friday in Alaska. Before that joint call, Trump also had a call with Zelenskyy as flew back from Alaska. 'The American side voiced this (joint security proposal) during a conversation with the president (Zelenskyy) and then repeated it during a joint conversation with the Europeans,' the diplomatic source said. Another source with knowledge of the matter confirmed the NATO-like guarantees had been discussed. But that source added: 'No-one knows how this could work and why Putin would agree to it if he is categorically against NATO and obviously against really effective guarantees of Ukraine's sovereignty.' Kyiv has long aspired to join NATO -- but Russia has given that as one of its reasons for its war in Ukraine, and some Western circles have expressed resistance to the idea. Trump has repeatedly ruled out Ukraine joining the Western military alliance. Zelenskyy is due in Washington on Monday for talks with Trump. The second source told AFP that Zelenskyy is to discuss what form a possible Trump-Putin-Zelenskyy summit would have, the role of Kyiv's European allies in peace talks, territories, and security guarantees.
Leaders
10 hours ago
- Leaders
Xi Vowed No Taiwan Invasion During My Presidency: Trump
US President Donald Trump on Friday stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him that China would not invade Taiwan while Trump remains in office. Trump made these remarks during an interview with Fox News, just before his discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. 'I will tell you, you know, you have a very similar thing with President Xi of China and Taiwan,' Trump said. 'But I don't believe there's any way it's going to happen as long as I'm here. We'll see.' He emphasized that Xi told him, 'I will never do it as long as you're president.' Trump expressed his appreciation for this assurance but noted that Xi also mentioned, 'But I am very patient, and China is very patient.' In June, Trump and Xi held their first confirmed call since Trump began his second presidential term. Additionally, Trump mentioned that Xi had called him in April, although he did not specify the date of that conversation. Taiwan's Status and US-China Relations China considers Taiwan to be its own territory and has vowed to 'reunify' with the democratically governed island, even by force if necessary, with Taipei strongly opposes China's claims of sovereignty. The Chinese Embassy in Washington addressed the Taiwan issue on Friday, calling it 'the most important and sensitive issue' in China-US relations. Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu stated, 'The US government should adhere to the one-China principle and the three US-China joint communiqués. It should handle Taiwan-related issues prudently and earnestly safeguard China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.' Although Washington serves as Taiwan's primary arms supplier and international supporter, the US does not maintain formal diplomatic ties with the island, similar to most countries. This complex relationship continues to shape the dynamics between the US, China, and Taiwan. Short link : Post Views: 8
