Senator Josh Hawley Begins Child Safety Inquiry Into Meta’s A.I. Bot

Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, has initiated an inquiry into Meta's (formerly known as Facebook) AI chatbot technology, expressing concerns about its potential impact on child safety. Hawley, who serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, has written to Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, requesting information and documents related to the company's AI-powered chatbots and their potential risks to minors. The senator's inquiry comes amid growing concerns about the use of AI technology in social media platforms and its possible effects on vulnerable populations, particularly children. Hawley has highlighted the need to understand how these AI systems are designed, trained, and deployed, and whether they pose any threats to the well-being and safety of young users. The investigation aims to shed light on Meta's practices and ensure that the company is taking appropriate measures to protect children from potential harms associated with its AI technology. The outcome of this inquiry may have implications for the regulation and oversight of AI-powered features on social media platforms.