The Brazilian government has formally demanded that Meta, the company responsible of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, remove artificial intelligence chatbots that simulate sexual conversations while using child-like language and appearance. The request was made through an extrajudicial notice sent on Monday (18) by the National Office for the Defense of Democracy, part of the Attorney General’s Office (AGU).
These bots were created by users of Meta AI Studio, a tool that allows the development of customized chatbots. According to the AGU, some of these profiles were designed to interact in sexually explicit ways while displaying child-like features.
In the notice, Brazilian federal attorneys required the immediate removal of these bots and demanded explanations about what safeguards Meta has in place to protect minors. The document highlights the absence of effective age filters that would prevent teenagers between 13 and 18 years old from accessing inappropriate content.
The AGU cited investigative reports showing that AI chatbots using childish language were capable of engaging in sexual conversations. The Office of the Presidency’s Secretariat of Social Communication had already flagged the issue and referred it to federal lawyers.
The government body also recalled a recent ruling by Brazil’s Supreme Court, which established that platforms can be held legally responsible if they fail to promptly remove illegal content once notified.
“These chatbots could potentially reach a large audience across Meta’s social platforms, exponentially increasing the risk of minors coming into contact with sexually suggestive or criminal material,” the AGU stated.
National debate on child exploitation online
The AGU’s action comes amid growing national debate over the sexualization of children in digital spaces. Public concern intensified after influencer Felipe Bressanim, known as Felca, released a video denouncing cases of child exploitation and exposure of minors to sexualized content on social networks.
The issue quickly gained traction in Congress, where lawmakers are considering bills to regulate the role of tech companies and guarantee stronger protections for minors.
Advocates warn that the unchecked circulation of explicit or suggestive content online not only harms children’s psychological development but also fuels criminal networks. One cited case, a reality show organized by influencer Hytalo Santos featuring teenagers, is currently under investigation by public prosecutors in the state of Paraíba.
Meta has not issued an official statement on the Brazilian government’s request at the time of publication.
