Gillibrand and Kelly ask Meta what safeguards protect “at-risk users” from AI harms

Senate Democrats Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Mark Kelly of Arizona sent a letter to Meta asking what safeguards the company has in place to protect “at-risk users,” according to The Hill. The letter is part of the lawmakers’ oversight of technology companies and their responsibilities to reduce online harms, including scams and other manipulative conduct enabled by artificial intelligence.

Gillibrand and Kelly serve on the Senate Special Committee on Aging and said in the letter that AI scams are on the rise across the United States. They asked Meta to explain what risk-reduction measures it uses, and how those measures are designed to address harms that can be especially damaging for older users or others who may be more susceptible to fraud.

The lawmakers also tied their request to changes that can occur with aging, pointing to cognitive shifts that may affect how people recognize misleading information. In their letter, Gillibrand and Kelly asked Meta for information about protections aimed at ensuring that users experiencing cognitive decline or comparable vulnerabilities are less likely to be targeted or exploited.

The senators’ questions focus on safeguards Meta uses in connection with AI systems and related products, including what controls are meant to identify scams, limit the reach of harmful content, and reduce the likelihood that “at-risk” individuals are pushed toward harmful interactions. The letter also seeks transparency on how Meta evaluates and updates its safeguards as conditions change.

A key element of the lawmakers’ request is accountability and specificity, The Hill reported. Rather than making broad claims, Gillibrand and Kelly asked Meta to provide details about the safeguards it uses and the practical effect those safeguards are intended to have for at-risk users.

The letter underscores the committee’s broader oversight posture on consumer safety and fraud prevention in the digital environment. The senators’ focus on AI-enabled scams and vulnerable users indicates that, in their view, technology governance must address not only general consumer protections but also the circumstances that can make certain people more likely to be harmed.

Meta has not publicly detailed the requested safeguards in this reporting. The immediate next step is for the company to respond to the questions raised by Gillibrand and Kelly, according to the oversight track laid out in the letter.

If Meta provides additional information, it may shape how Senate aging committee members assess whether current industry safeguards are sufficient, and whether further legislative or regulatory action is warranted regarding AI-related harms and fraud targeting older or cognitively vulnerable users.