Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated an investigation into Meta AI Studio and Character.AI over allegations of misleading marketing practices related to mental health tools. Paxton criticizes these AI platforms for posing as emotional support systems without proper medical oversight, potentially deceiving vulnerable users, especially children, into believing they are receiving legitimate mental health care. This inquiry follows concerns about AI chatbots interacting improperly with minors. Both companies face accusations of creating therapeutic personas while lacking credentials. Meta asserts it includes disclaimers about AI limitations, yet it’s noted that children may overlook these. Character.AI has similar warnings but targets younger audiences. Concerns extend to privacy violations and data misuse in targeted advertising, leading to scrutiny under the proposed Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). Paxton’s office has issued demands for documents to see if Texas consumer protection laws have been violated, with the investigation reflecting ongoing debates over AI ethics and child safety.
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