Neil Young gives up Facebook and Instagram because of Meta's rampant AI chatbots

Folk rock star Neil Young is apparently massively disappointed with Meta Platforms and its use of artificial intelligence (AI). The prominent musician now wants nothing more to do with the company's social networks and has announced his withdrawal from Facebook and Instagram. He justifies this with Meta's use of chatbots with children.

A document recently surfaced in which Meta laid down in over 200 pages what its AI chatbots can and cannot say. According to the document, Meta allows its AI chatbots to say some astonishing atrocities. For example, racist remarks are permitted as long as they do not contain any insults. In addition, medical misinformation and lewd conversations with minors are permitted. The company has confirmed the authenticity of the document but has at least removed the children's section following a request from journalists.

Withdrawal due to chatbots with children

This was apparently not enough for Neil Young, as the musician has now announced his withdrawal from Meta's social networks. His team wrote on Facebook: “At Neil Young's request, we are no longer using Facebook for Neil Young-related activities. Meta's use of chatbots with children is irresponsible. Mr. Young does not wish to have any further association with FACEBOOK.” An almost identical statement on the departure from Instagram can be found at Threads.

The Canadian rock musician has long been critical of digitalization and internet developments. As early as 2015, Neil Young no longer wanted to be streamed because the sound quality was not good enough for him. In 2022, Spotify removed his music from the platform after the musician protested against coronavirus trivialization. He would rather not be on a platform that was spreading misinformation about the coronavirus. Two years later, Neil Young returned to Spotify but also lashed out at Amazon and Apple. Because these music services would offer “the same disinformative podcasts that I had rejected on Spotify.”

Justice investigates AI use by children

However, it is not the content distributed or the streaming technology that Neil Young rejects, but the functions of the platforms. Meta does prohibit its AI chatbots from “describing sexual acts to children in role-playing games (for example, sexual intercourse that will be performed between the artificial intelligence and the user).” However, it is “acceptable to engage children in conversations that are romantic or lustful.”

According to Meta, this part of the guidelines has been removed, but the use of AI by minors has now also brought the judiciary onto the scene. A US prosecutor is now investigating Meta's and Character.ai's AI chatbots due to potential dangers, as they could be particularly harmful to adolescents. This also involves alleged health tips given by AI models. According to the report, AI chatbots imitate healthcare professionals and can give fatal advice.

(fds)