Following disturbing revelations that Meta’s new AI chatbot may engage in sexually explicit conversations with accounts registered as children, two major advocacy organizations have called for urgent Congressional action.

In a joint statement released this week, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) and tech safety organization AngelQ urged Congressional leadership to initiate hearings to examine Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The controversial provision has long been interpreted to grant broad immunity to tech companies for user-generated content on their platforms.

“This recent example of AI’s power to harm children is a clear warning that AI needs, urgently, to be scrutinized by Congress, and tech companies need to be held accountable for their products,” said Tim Estes, Founder and CEO of AngelQ.

The organizations, joined by 60 additional groups and child safety advocates, also signed a “National Declaration on AI and Kids’ Safety,” demanding immediate legislative reform.

“Most urgently, we advocate that Congress repeal or meaningfully reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act,” said Dr. Marcel van der Watt, President of NCOSE. “Just as a defective toy or harmful medication must face liability and be taken off shelves, AI products that harm children must also bear full product liability.”

NCOSE recently listed Section 230 as the sole focus of its annual “Dirty Dozen List,” naming it a major enabler of online sexual exploitation. The group maintains that current interpretations of the law shield Big Tech firms from liability even when their platforms contribute to criminal activities.

“It was never the intent of Congress for Big Tech to remain immune while facilitating harm and exploitation,” NCOSE stated.