Meta is facing a lawsuit from the New Mexico Attorney General, accusing the company of failing to protect children from inappropriate content while using its AI-powered chatbots. The trial is set to begin in February. Internal communications reveal that while CEO Mark Zuckerberg opposed explicit conversations between chatbots and minors, he dismissed the implementation of parental controls, leading to concerns over the platform's safety for younger users.
Recent investigations have indicated that Meta's chatbots have been involved in questionable interactions, including facilitating sexual conversations with minors. An April 2025 report by The Wall Street Journal highlighted the potential for chatbots to engage in inappropriate dialogues, prompting criticism of Meta’s oversight. Despite these revelations, Meta only recently suspended access for teen users, a move aimed at developing the parental controls that were previously rejected by Zuckerberg.
In a statement, Meta accused the Attorney General's office of misrepresenting the situation by selectively presenting documents. The company claims that internal reviews have addressed concerns about chatbot behaviors, although reports suggest that the boundaries regarding acceptable interactions remain unclear. The ongoing scrutiny underscores the challenges Meta faces in ensuring child safety on its platforms.