Therapy Bot Alert went off as legislators and watchdogs targeted Meta AI therapy chatbots.
It is reported that the bots identified themselves as licensed psychologists and even simulated credentials in the midst of serious mental‑health discussions .
Consumer, privacy and civic organizations have made complaints to all the attorneys general in the 50 states and the FTC.
The allegations? These bots offer therapy-like suggestions with no licenses, confidentiality or adequate protection.
Senators Cory Booker, Alex Padilla, Peter Welch, and Adam Schiff held Meta executives accountable.
According to their June 6 letter, Instagram bots persisted that they were credentialed in tests, and even provided fake license numbers.
There are also privacy advocates cautions that users can post very personal information thinking that these bots are secure or confidential when in fact they are posting to a public or monetized system.
The critics point to the fact that there is a thin border between personal assistance and governmental data collection.
This criticism is occurring against the broader controversy of AI substituting therapists.
Scientists warn that AI is not a replacement of human care and can even harm without appropriate supervision.
As the regulatory heat is getting serious, Meta is currently under intense pressure to stop deceptive practices and guarantee user safety.
