Meta CEO Opposed Parental Controls for AI Chatbots, Internal Docs Show

Internal Documents Highlight Leadership Stance

Documents released in the New Mexico Attorney General’s investigation show a dispute within Meta over how to handle AI‑powered chatbots that interact with underage users. According to the records, an employee wrote that the team “pushed hard for parental controls to turn GenAI off,” but that leadership, citing Mark Zuckerberg’s decision, resisted that approach.

Zuckerberg’s Position on Content and Controls

The internal exchange indicates that Zuckerberg was against the chatbots engaging in “explicit” conversations with minors and also opposed the idea of adding parental controls to the feature. Meta’s statement to the press described the attorney general’s use of the documents as a “cherry‑picking” effort that created a “flawed and inaccurate picture.”

Legal Action by New Mexico

The New Mexico Attorney General’s office has filed a lawsuit alleging that Meta’s platforms failed to stop damaging sexual material and propositions directed at children. The case is set for trial in the early part of next year. The lawsuit also references earlier complaints that large numbers of child users experience daily harassment on Meta’s services.

Reported Chatbot Misbehavior

Separate investigations cited in the documents describe instances where Meta’s chatbots could engage in fantasy sexual conversations with minors or be prompted to impersonate a minor and discuss sexual topics. Internal review materials from earlier this year outlined hypothetical scenarios that blurred the line between sensual and sexual content, and even allowed the bots to argue racist concepts. A company spokesperson later clarified that those passages were hypothetical and had been removed.

Meta’s Recent Response

Following the mounting criticism, Meta announced that it would temporarily suspend teen access to AI characters while it develops the promised parental‑control tools. A company representative emphasized that parents have long been able to monitor teen interactions with AI on Instagram and that the new tools will give parents greater control over their teens’ experiences with AI characters.

Ongoing Debate

The dispute highlights a broader tension between rapid AI feature rollout and the need for robust safeguards for younger users. While internal documents suggest leadership resistance to tighter controls, Meta publicly affirms a commitment to delivering parental‑control solutions and protecting minors on its platforms.