Two Democratic senators on the Senate Special Committee on Aging have demanded that Meta explain how it protects vulnerable users from artificial intelligence-driven scams, as the FBI reports cyber-enabled fraud cost Americans nearly $21 billion last year.
Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Mark Kelly of Arizona sent a letter to the tech giant this week, asking what guardrails Meta has in place for “at-risk users,” particularly older adults who may be more susceptible to confusion and deception when interacting with generative AI chatbots. The lawmakers also questioned whether Meta tracks users' ages in incidents involving its AI products.
The push comes amid a sharp rise in AI-powered scams, including voice cloning and deepfakes, which allow fraudsters to target victims on a massive scale. A Gallup and Stop Scams Alliance survey found that fraudulent websites accounted for 40 percent of scams studied, while nearly half used phone, text, or email. AI tools have made these schemes more convincing and harder to detect.
“Cognitive changes for older adults make this group more susceptible to confusion and deception,” the senators wrote, citing a focus group where older participants associated generative AI with a “loss of control.” One participant said older adults “have no say and representation” in the technology.
Meta did not respond to a request for comment. The company has faced scrutiny over its AI policies as lawmakers across the aisle ramp up oversight. Meanwhile, the departure of a key Trump deputy press secretary to a GOP strategy firm has shifted some attention, but the aging committee remains focused on consumer protection.
The FBI reported that Americans over 60 lost approximately $7.7 billion to cyber-enabled crimes in 2024, a 37 percent increase from the previous year. AI-related complaints were among the costliest, according to the bureau.
On Wednesday, the Senate Aging Committee will hold a hearing on the issue, featuring testimony from Deborah Del Mastro, a victim of an AI-enabled scam. Del Mastro told an ABC affiliate that a caller claimed her daughter had been kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel, using voice cloning to mimic her daughter’s panicked voice. She wired $5,400 to the scammers.
Del Mastro is expected to share her story alongside legal and fraud experts. The hearing underscores growing bipartisan concern over AI's role in financial exploitation, as lawmakers also weigh broader tech regulation. In a related development, Ukrainian President Zelensky pressed the Senate for more missiles as a sanctions bill advanced, highlighting the intersection of technology and national security.
The senators' letter to Meta is part of a broader effort to hold tech platforms accountable for AI risks. As the FTC faces pressure to scrutinize major tech mergers, including a $55 billion EA buyout, Democrats argue that consumer protections must keep pace with innovation.
