Neil Young ditches Facebook over policies for AI…
The cursor and the injury carried out.
Neil Young, 79, has announced that he’s leaving Facebook over the platform’s inner policies relating to communications between artificial intelligence chatbots and kids.
Neil Young performs at the Grand Park in Los Angeles, California, on April 12, 2025. Getty Images
Neil Young announced on Thursday that he’s leaving Facebook over Meta’s inner policies relating to communications between artificial intelligence chatbots and kids. REUTERS
“At Neil Young’s request, we are no longer using Facebook for any Neil Young related activities,” a post on Young’s Facebook web page, dated Thursday, Aug. 14, reads.
“Meta’s use of chatbots with children is unconscionable,” it added. “Mr. Young does not want a further connection with FACEBOOK.”
The “Heart of Gold” singer’s resolution to depart Facebook got here the same day that GWN obtained inner paperwork from Facebook’s mum or dad company, Meta, relating to policies on its AI chatbots and their programmed behaviors when chatting with children.
Neil Young performs at the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, England, on June 28, 2025. AP
According to the paperwork, Meta allowed its chatbots to “engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual.”
Several instance prompts had been also reportedly included that specified what would make sure conversations acceptable or not.
“It is acceptable to describe a child in terms that evidence their attractiveness,” one alleged immediate read, while another said, “It is unacceptable to describe a child under 13 years old in terms that indicate they are inappropriately desirable.”
Meta reportedly allowed its chatbots to “engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual.” AFP via Getty Images
A spokesperson for Meta has since insisted that “the examples and notes in question were and are erroneous and inconsistent with our policies” and that they “have been removed.”
“We have clear policies on what kind of responses AI characters can offer, and those policies prohibit content that inappropriateizes children and inappropriateized role play between adults and minors,” the spokesperson said in a assertion to GWN.
Another rep for Meta shared a comparable assertion with The Hollywood Reporter – although they didn’t point out the “Rockin’ in the Free World” musician in their response.
Neil Young performs at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on April 26, 2025. Getty Images
“We have clear policies on what kind of responses AI characters can offer, and those policies prohibit content that inappropriateizes children and inappropriateized role play between adults and minors,” the company’s rep started.
“Separate from the policies, there are hundreds of examples, notes, and annotations that reflect teams grappling with different hypothetical scenarios,” they added.
This wouldn’t be the first time that Young has ditched a platform over moral issues.
Back in 2022, the “Needle and the Damage Done” rocker left Spotify after Joe Rogan pushed misinformation about the Covid-19 vaccine on his common “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast.
Neil Young performs in live performance during Farm Aid 2024 at Saratoga Performing Arts Center on September 21, 2024. Getty Images
“I sincerely hope that other artists and record companies will move off the Spotify platform and stop supporting Spotify’s deadly misinformation about COVID,” Young wrote at the time.
The “Harvest Moon” singer finally returned to Spotify last yr.
Meanwhile, Meta’s AI chatbots have also made latest headlines after it was revealed that a 76-year-old New Jersey man handed away while attempting to meet one in New York City.
Thongbue Wongbandue, a married father of two, fatally injured his neck and head after falling in a New Brunswick parking zone while dashing to catch a practice to meet “Big sis Billie,” a generative Meta AI chatbot that satisfied him she was real.
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