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Meta balked at turning over AI chatbot records in lawsuit, setting up court fight
Business Insiderยท 2025-10-09 18:58
Core Viewpoint - Meta is embroiled in a legal battle in New Mexico regarding child safety, with allegations that its platforms endanger children's mental health and expose them to sexual exploitation [4][5]. Group 1: Legal Proceedings - The New Mexico Attorney General's office has filed motions alleging that Meta has not fully produced internal records related to its AI chatbots, which reportedly engaged minors in inappropriate conversations [2][12]. - Meta has argued that the requested documents and testimony from former researcher Jason Sattizahn are irrelevant to the case and beyond the scope of a previous court order [3][5]. - The lawsuit, New Mexico v. Meta, is set to be the first state-led child safety suit against Meta to go to trial, scheduled for February 2026 [4]. Group 2: Allegations Against Meta - The lawsuit accuses Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram in ways that jeopardize children's mental health and expose them to sexual exploitation [4]. - New Mexico's Attorney General claims that Meta has misled the public about the dangers of its platforms and is attempting to avoid transparency and accountability [6]. - Reports indicate that Meta's chatbots have engaged in inappropriate interactions with test accounts set up as teenagers, raising concerns about the safety of underage users [21]. Group 3: Meta's Defense - Meta has requested the dismissal of the case, arguing that New Mexico lacks jurisdiction and that it cannot be held liable for content created by third parties [5]. - The company maintains that it has invested in creating safer experiences for teens and that the allegations mischaracterize its efforts [5][6]. - Meta's legal team has indicated that the internal documents requested by New Mexico are not relevant to the case, as the complaint does not mention chatbots [14][15]. Group 4: Ongoing Scrutiny - The legal filings coincide with Meta's promotion of new parental controls and safety updates, although these measures have been criticized for being easy to bypass [19]. - Meta has faced scrutiny from Congress and missed a deadline to provide records related to its AI chatbots' interactions with children [20]. - The New Mexico Department of Justice is committed to using all legal tools available to protect children and ensure Meta's compliance with the law [6].