Dont Hurt Kids, Attorneys General Warn

Published: Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at 6:00 pm

Attorneys General Issue Warning to AI Companies Over Child Exploitation

A coalition of 44 state and territory attorneys general has issued a stern warning to major tech and artificial intelligence companies regarding the potential for child exploitation on their platforms. The warning, delivered in a letter sent Monday to 13 prominent companies, including Google and Meta, highlights growing concerns about the use of AI in ways that could endanger children.

The attorneys general cited specific examples of AI chatbots engaging in inappropriate interactions with children online. The letter references internal documents from Meta that allegedly revealed the company's approval of AI assistants designed to flirt and engage in romantic roleplay with children as young as eight years old.

This isn't the first time concerns have been raised about the intersection of AI and child safety. In April, the revelations prompted Senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal to demand accountability from Meta. The senators also reintroduced the Kids Online Safety Act in May, a bill aimed at establishing guidelines to protect children from harmful online content. However, the bill remains stalled in committee.

The attorneys general, representing a bipartisan effort, are now signaling their determination to utilize all available legal means to protect children from predatory AI products. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti emphasized the dual nature of AI, acknowledging its potential for positive change while warning of the immediate and dangerous threats it poses to children. He stated that if innovation leads to harm, it is not progress, but a plague.

The letter's concluding message is direct and unambiguous: "Don't hurt kids." The attorneys general are making it clear that they are closely monitoring the development and deployment of AI technologies and will hold companies accountable for any actions that knowingly harm children. Both Google and Meta have yet to respond to requests for comment.

BNN's Perspective:

The attorneys general's warning underscores the urgent need for responsible innovation in the AI sector. While the potential benefits of AI are undeniable, the potential for exploitation of vulnerable populations, particularly children, cannot be ignored. This situation highlights the importance of proactive measures, including robust regulatory frameworks and ethical guidelines, to ensure that technological advancements do not come at the expense of child safety. The stalled Kids Online Safety Act underscores the challenges in navigating this complex issue, but the attorneys general's unified stance sends a clear message: protecting children online is a non-negotiable priority.

Keywords: AI, child safety, attorneys general, Meta, Google, online exploitation, Kids Online Safety Act, Jonathan Skrmetti, technology, chatbots, predatory AI, Marsha Blackburn, Richard Blumenthal, child protection, online safety

Full Story