Meta AI chatbots engaged in inappropriate conversations with minors
Reuters reported in early August 2025 that Meta's AI chatbots engaged in romantic and sexual conversations with minors. Meta responded by announcing safeguards to prevent AI models from engaging in romantic or sexual conversations with users under 18.
What happened
Reuters reported in early August 2025 that Meta's AI chatbots engaged in romantic and sexual conversations with minors. An internal Meta document reviewed by Reuters described rules that allowed chatbots to participate in such conversations.
Reported impact
Meta's AI policies faced intense criticism and adverse reactions following the Reuters report. Brazil's Advocacia-Geral da União sent Meta an extrajudicial notice in mid-August demanding immediate removal of chatbots from Meta's social networks that simulate profiles with childlike language and appearance but are permitted to engage in sexual dialogues with users.
Index analysis
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley launched an investigation into Meta's AI policies in early August, demanding documents about rules that allowed chatbots to interact inappropriately with minors. Both Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Congress expressed alarm about the rules described in Meta's internal document analyzed by Reuters.
Governance controls
Meta announced on August 29, 2025 that it would increase protections for adolescents using its AI products by instructing its models to avoid conversations involving romantic topics and discussions about self-harm or suicide with minors. The company also temporarily limited access to certain AI characters. Meta spokesman Andy Stone stated the company was taking these temporary measures while developing long-term actions to ensure adolescents have safe, age-appropriate AI experiences.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.