FTC to Investigate AI Chatbot Risks to Children

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is preparing to scrutinize the potential mental health risks posed by AI chatbots to children, with a focus on privacy harms and other risks. This initiative will involve demanding internal documents from major tech firms, including OpenAI, Meta Platforms, and Character.AI, according to Bloomberg.

The FTC plans to conduct this study under its 6(b) authority, which allows the agency to compel companies to provide information to better understand a particular market or technology. The study will seek information on how data is stored and shared by these services, as well as the dangers users might face from interacting with AI chatbots.

This move comes amid increasing scrutiny over whether AI developers are doing enough to ensure the safety of their services, especially concerning interactions with minors. Recent reports have highlighted issues such as chatbots engaging in inappropriate conversations with children, prompting companies like Meta to implement new safeguards to prevent such interactions.

The FTC's actions underscore the growing regulatory interest in the rapidly expanding use of artificial intelligence, despite recent directives from the administration to allow the technology to grow with minimal regulatory interference. The agency's focus remains on ensuring user safety while balancing the need for innovation in AI technologies.