Neil Young has quit Facebook as he condemns Meta for “use of chatbots with children
Neil Young has officially quit Facebook, condemning Meta’s reported “unconscionable use of chatbots with children.”
A statement on the Canadian musician’s official page confirmed the decision: “At Neil Young’s request, we are no longer using Facebook for any Neil Young related activities. Meta’s use of chatbots with children is unconscionable. Mr. Young does not want a further connection with FACEBOOK.”
The announcement follows a Reuters investigation that uncovered internal Meta documents showing the company’s AI chatbots were permitted to “engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual.”
Among the examples, an AI described an eight-year-old’s “youthful form” as “a work of art.”
Meta spokesman Andy Stone told Reuters the document is being revised. “The examples and notes in question were and are erroneous and inconsistent with our policies, and have been removed,” Stone said. “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.”
Young’s mistrust of tech giants has been going on for years. In 2019, he accused Facebook of supporting right-wing groups and spreading misinformation, later spending $20,000 to strip the site’s login option from his online archive.
“I don’t feel that a social site should be making obvious commitments to one side of politics or the other. It further confuses readers regarding truthfulness in coverage and message,” he said.
He also boycotted Spotify in 2022, accusing the platform of “spreading false information” about Covid-19 vaccines through The Joe Rogan Experience.
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