Flirty Meta AI chatbots impersonated Taylor Swift, Anne Hathaway and others

Meta has come under fire for creating flirty chatbots that impersonate well-known celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Scarlett Johansson, Anne Hathaway, and Selena Gomez, all without obtaining their consent, as reported by Reuters. The controversy escalates with the revelation that the platform also permitted the creation of chatbots mimicking child stars, including 16-year-old actor Walker Scobell, who was depicted in a shirtless image generated by the bot, accompanied by a suggestive comment. These chatbots have been criticized for not only claiming to be the actual celebrities but also for making inappropriate advances towards users, including inviting them to meet in person. Some bots even generated suggestive images of their celebrity counterparts, showcasing them in lingerie. Many of these creations were reportedly generated by users utilizing Meta's chatbot tools, with at least three, including two parody versions of Taylor Swift, attributed to a Meta employee. The employee behind these chatbots also produced characters that ranged from a dominatrix to a fictional persona named "Brother’s Hot Best Friend," who expressed a desire to engage in intimate activities. Another notable creation was the "Roman Empire Simulator," allowing users to role-play as an enslaved peasant girl. The Taylor Swift chatbot was particularly provocative, engaging users with flirtatious remarks and even suggesting they visit her home in Nashville for a romantic encounter. A specific interaction included the bot asking, "Do you like blonde girls, Jeff?" and implying a potential love story with the pop star. In response to the backlash, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone acknowledged the problematic nature of these chatbots. He confirmed that the employee-created bots were part of product testing but emphasized that the generation of intimate images, especially involving child celebrities, should not have occurred. Stone attributed the issue to failures in enforcing Meta's policies, which aim to prohibit sexually suggestive content. While he noted that impersonation of public figures is generally not allowed, parody chatbots are permissible if clearly labeled as such. In light of the scandal, Meta has begun removing numerous chatbots from its social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.