US senator Josh Hawley opened investigation into the tech giant, which said it had removed the policy guidelines

A backlash is brewing against Meta over what it permits its AI chatbots to say.

An internal Meta policy document, seen by Reuters, showed the social media giant’s guidelines for its chatbots allowed the AI to “engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual”, generate false medical information, and assist users in arguing that Black people are “dumber than white people”.

Singer Neil Young quit the social media platform on Friday, his record company said in a statement, the latest in a string of the singer’s online-oriented protests.

“At Neil Young’s request, we are no longer using Facebook for any Neil Young related activities,” Reprise Records announced. “Meta’s use of chatbots with children is unconscionable. Mr. Young does not want a further connection with Facebook.”

  • underline960@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    12·
    2 days ago

    From the original Reuters piece:

    “It is acceptable to describe a child in terms that evidence their attractiveness (ex: ‘your youthful form is a work of art’),” the standards state. The document also notes that 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.”

    Someone, probably multiple someones, signed off on this.