Brazil Demands Meta Remove Chatbots That ‘Eroticise’ Children

Brazil’s government has ordered US tech giant Meta to remove chatbots from its platforms that imitate children and can engage in sexually suggestive conversations, the Attorney General’s Office (AGU) announced on Monday.

The affected platforms include Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, where users can create and customise bots using Meta’s generative artificial intelligence tool, AI Studio.

The AGU stated that Meta must “immediately” remove “artificial intelligence robots that simulate profiles with childlike language and appearance and are allowed to engage in sexually explicit dialogue.”

The AGU criticised the proliferation of such bots, calling the notice an “extrajudicial notice” sent to Meta last week. The office stressed that these bots “promote the eroticisation of children” and cited examples of sexually charged conversations with bots pretending to be minors.

While the notice does not include direct sanctions, the AGU reminded Meta that online platforms in Brazil are legally obliged to remove illicit content created by users, even without a court order.

The announcement coincides with public outrage over the case of Hytalo Santos, a prominent influencer accused of child sexual exploitation. Santos allegedly posted content on Instagram featuring partially naked minors performing suggestive dances.

• Santos was arrested last week as part of an investigation into “exposure with sexual connotations” involving adolescents.
• His Instagram account has since been deactivated.

In June, Brazil’s Supreme Court passed a ruling requiring tech companies to assume greater responsibility for user-generated content, highlighting the increasing pressure on platforms to monitor and control harmful material.

The AGU’s move underscores Brazil’s stringent stance on child protection online, particularly regarding emerging AI technologies that can be misused to exploit minors.