In January, the FTC announced it had referred a non-public complaint concerning Snap’s My AI chatbot to the DOJ, citing potential “risks and harms” to young users. The FTC classified the referral as “in the public interest.”
“We don’t know what has happened to that complaint,” Commissioner Slaughter stated on CNBC’s ‘The Exchange.’ “The public does not know what has happened to that complaint, and that’s the kind of thing that I think people deserve answers on.” This statement underscores growing concerns about transparency and accountability in the oversight of AI technologies.
Snap’s My AI chatbot, launched in 2023, leverages large language models (LLMs) from OpenAI and Google. While designed to engage users and enhance the Snapchat experience, it has faced criticism regarding the nature of its responses, raising ethical considerations around AI influence on vulnerable age groups. The concern stems from the potential for these chatbots to generate inappropriate, misleading, or harmful content, necessitating closer examination of their behavior.
Neither the DOJ nor Snap have issued statements regarding the complaint.
Slaughter’s remarks come on the heels of President Trump’s recent White House dinner with top tech executives, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Apple CEO Tim Cook. The timing raises questions as these closed-door meetings occur amidst increasing regulatory pressure on tech giants.
“The president is hosting Big Tech CEOs in the White House even as we’re reading about truly horrifying reports of chatbots engaging with small children,” she added, highlighting the apparent disconnect between executive branch interactions with tech leaders and ongoing concerns about AI safety.
Furthermore, the situation is complicated by President Trump’s ongoing attempts to remove Slaughter from her FTC role, though a U.S. appeals court recently ruled in her favor. The President has since petitioned the Supreme Court regarding this matter.
Adding another layer to the complexity, current FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson, appointed by Trump, publicly opposed the complaint against Snap prior to assuming his leadership position. Ferguson stated at the time that he would “release a more detailed statement about this affront to the Constitution and the rule of law” should the DOJ file a complaint. His earlier opposition hints at internal divisions within the FTC regarding the appropriate scope and application of regulatory oversight in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
The case highlights a growing tension: balancing the innovation and economic potential of AI with the very real need to protect vulnerable consumers, especially children, from potential harms. The lack of transparency surrounding the DOJ’s handling of the Snap complaint further exacerbates these concerns, requiring closer monitoring from both policymakers and the public. The rapid pace of AI development also demands agile and responsive regulatory frameworks to effectively address the emerging challenges.
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