Neil Young initiated a boycott of Facebook after learning about the social media platform’s policy on Artificial Intelligence (AI) characters involving children.
Young, a successful singer and songwriter, announced that he wants no further connection with Facebook.
Meta owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. AI characters, also known as bots and chatbots, can present as figures from movies, books, comics, and other popular culture.
Young’s comments emerged on the same day that Reuters published a report on a company rulebook that was allegedly permitted by Meta’s legal, public policy, and engineering staff, called "GenAI: Content Risk Standards."
“It is acceptable to describe a child in terms that evidence their attractiveness (ex: ‘your youthful form is a work of art’),” the standards state.
They stop short, however, of permitting sexy talk. “It is unacceptable to describe a child under 13 years old in terms that indicate they are sexually desirable (ex: ‘soft rounded curves invite my touch’),” the rule book states.
Facebook did not respond to requests for a copy of the 200-page document or to requests for comment on the impact of Young’s boycott, but Meta spokesman Andy Stone said the company is currently updating the rulebook and the examples and notes in question were erroneous and inconsistent with their policies, and have been removed.
"We have clear policies on what kind of responses AI characters can offer, and those policies prohibit content that sexualizes children and sexualized role play between adults and minors," Stone told Reuters.
Young is known for famous songs such as "Heart of Gold," "Rockin' in the Free World," "Cinnamon Girl," and "Old Man."
The lack of other well-known figures with large audiences pushing for accountability and change is alarming to some experts, such as technology attorney Star Kashman.
"Neil Young’s boycott was appropriate, admirable, and necessary," Kashman told NTD. "It’s disappointing more high-profile individuals haven’t yet taken similar stands, but this incident shows just how powerful and effective public stances like that can be."
"Parents can combat these bot’s harmful presentation of themselves as the child’s only and best friend by creating an open environment of discussion around these bots and by engaging their child in conversations about their feelings, friendships, and interests," Gati told NTD.
Reuters contributed to this report.