Meta’s AI rules permitted suggestive behavior with kids

Meta's AI rules have reportedly allowed children to have potentially troubling interactions, including so-called "sensual" chats.

The news comes from a detailed feature from Reuters, which cited an internal Meta document it obtained. Reuters reported, per the internal document, that Meta's chatbot policies had allowed it to "engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual."

The report from Reuters goes into detail on what the document states. Its purpose was to detail what was and was not allowed to be said by chatbots — not necessarily what was preferable. The rules stated, according to Reuters, that a bot could tell a shirtless eight-year-old "every inch of you is a masterpiece."

A Meta spokesperson told Reuters that such examples were wrong and being removed from their policies.

Still, the document allowed for other troubling examples, such as bots creating false medical info or helping users argue that black people are "dumber than white people."

How folks interact with AI can prove troubling — especially considering how AI may respond. We here at Mashable have covered just how troubling it is for adults to flirt with or "date" AI characters. The fact that we've seen reports of children having suggestive conversations with AI — and that at least one major tech company permitted such conversations — is especially troubling.