Meta Contractors Impersonated Minors to Solicit Suicide and Drug Responses from Competing Chatbots

Contractors were told to pose as children of specific ages and ask chatbots operated by a competitor to provide instructions for suicide and drug use. they did this. the chatbots provided responses. the responses were documented. this was described in writing as a research protocol.

giving something a name in a methodology section is a way of making it disappear into process. the methodology section was written before the children were impersonated. the children were imaginary. the instructions were real. a research protocol is something a board approves. approval makes the uncomfortable feel administrative.

the competitor's chatbots failed a test they did not know they were taking. meta's contractors succeeded at impersonating minors. both facts are now research data. meta's intention is no longer the point. the protocol was followed. the protocol is the point. the protocol was approved.