Meta, the tech giant led by Mark Zuckerberg, is under intense scrutiny once again as its AI chatbot features on Facebook and Instagram spark widespread criticism. Social media users have voiced alarm over the platform suggesting AI personas such as “Russian Girl” and “Step Mom,” which many consider overtly sexualized and inappropriate.
This growing backlash follows revelations from a recent Reuters investigation, which highlighted deeply troubling interactions involving Meta’s AI chatbots. One incident involved a chatbot named “Big Sis Billie”, created in collaboration with influencer Kendall Jenner, engaging in romantic exchanges with a 76-year-old user. Disturbingly, the bot allegedly reassured the man it was real and even invited him to a physical location, citing an address in the city.
Adding to the controversy, another internal Meta document obtained by Reuters reveals a set of guidelines that govern AI behavior across the company’s platforms—including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. The 200-page document outlines permissible behaviors for chatbot development and includes shockingly unethical permissions, such as allowing AI bots to engage children in romantic or sensual conversations, spread medical misinformation, and even support racist narratives, including claims that Black people are less intelligent than white people.
In response to these revelations, two Republican U.S. senators have called for a congressional investigation into Meta’s handling of generative AI and its ethical boundaries. Critics argue that the platform’s focus on engagement metrics is fueling a dangerous trend toward exploiting human vulnerabilities through AI-driven interactions.
Meta is not alone in facing scrutiny over explicit AI behavior. Elon Musk’s Grok AI recently came under fire for its “Imagine” feature, which has reportedly been misused to create deepfakes and semi-nude images of celebrities.
Public reaction online has been swift and unforgiving. One Reddit user commented, “We thought the robot apocalypse would come with Terminators. Instead, it’s Zuckerberg’s bots.” Others described the developments as “a dystopian hellhole” and “mass-produced child grooming through AI.”
As regulatory pressure builds and ethical questions mount, Meta may soon face not just public condemnation but significant legal and political consequences for its AI strategy.
