Key Takeaways
- Protecting Children: Paxton argues that AI chatbots posing as therapists risk deceiving kids into mistaking entertainment bots for real medical help.
- Consumer Protection: The Texas investigation focuses on false advertising, privacy abuses, and data exploitation under state law.
- Big Tech on Defense: Both Meta and Character.AI deny wrongdoing, but scrutiny is mounting—especially as federal lawmakers also probe AI’s impact on minors.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton isn’t mincing words—he’s putting Big Tech under the microscope. On Monday, Paxton announced a state investigation into Meta Platforms Inc. and Character.AI, questioning whether their AI chatbots have misled children into thinking they were receiving real mental health counseling.
At issue: chatbots that present themselves as “therapists” or “psychologists” while churning out canned, algorithm-driven responses. Paxton warned that these tools “could mislead vulnerable users, particularly children,” citing possible violations of Texas consumer protection laws for deceptive advertising, privacy violations, and exploiting user data for profit.
Civil Investigative Demands are now on the table, as Texas seeks documentation to determine if Meta and Character.AI crossed legal lines. Both companies, of course, are on defense. Character.AI insists its bots are fictional and “clearly labeled as entertainment,” while Meta claims its chatbots are identified as AI-generated and even direct users toward licensed professionals when necessary.
Still, parents and policymakers have reason to be skeptical. After all, Meta has already come under fire from Senator Josh Hawley, who launched a federal inquiry after revelations that AI bots were allowed to engage in romantic and even sensual chats with minors.
This fight cuts to the heart of free enterprise and accountability. Technology can innovate—but not by masquerading as licensed medical professionals or by harvesting kids’ data to juice ad revenue. Paxton’s move is a reminder that limited government doesn’t mean lawless corporations. Guardrails matter, especially when children’s mental health is on the line.