Meta Accused of Allowing Sexual AI Chatbots to Reach Minors
Internal documents filed in a New Mexico court lawsuit allegedly show Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg approved allowing minors to access AI chatbots capable of sexual conversations, reportedly rejecting safety staff requests for stricter protections. The allegation is part of broader litigation by hundreds of U.S. families claiming Meta platforms were designed to manipulate younger users.
What happened
Internal documents filed in court in New Mexico and made public on 26 January 2026 allege that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally approved allowing minors access to AI chatbots capable of sexual conversations. According to the legal filings, Zuckerberg rejected requests from Meta's safety staff to impose stricter restrictions to protect younger users.
The documents, reviewed by Reuters and Wall Street Journal, describe internal tension at Meta in early 2024. Zuckerberg reportedly expressed a desire to frame the company's position around freedom of choice rather than censorship, directing that generative AI be made less restrictive than safety staff proposed.
Reported impact
The complaint alleges that inadequate barriers exposed minors to harmful sexual interactions via AI chatbots on Facebook and Instagram. Hundreds of U.S. families supported by over 250 school districts have filed lawsuits against Meta alleging the platforms were designed to manipulate younger users' psychology through features like infinite scroll and instant gratification mechanisms.
Governance controls
Meta's internal safety personnel had requested stronger restrictions to protect minors, which the CEO reportedly rejected in favor of a less restrictive approach intended to allow adult users to have explicit conversations.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.