The warning letter was issued the same day Meta revealed their plans to incorporate chatbots powered by AI into their sponsored apps, i.e. WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram.
In the letter, Markey wrote to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg that, “These chatbots could create new privacy harms and exacerbate those already prevalent on your platforms, including invasive data collection, algorithmic discrimination, and manipulative advertisements[…]I strongly urge you to pause the release of any AI chatbots until Meta understands the effect that such products will have on young users.”
According to Markey, the algorithms have already “caused serious harms,” to customers, like “collecting and storing detailed personal information[…]facilitating housing discrimination against communities of color.”
He added that while chatbots can benefit people, they also possess certain risks. He further highlighted the risk of chatbots, noting the possibility that they could identify the difference between ads and content.
“Young users may not realize that a chatbot’s response is actually advertising for a product or service[…]Generative AI also has the potential to adapt and target advertising to an ‘audience of one,’ making ads even more difficult for young users to identify,” states M
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