U.S. Federal Trade Commission Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter raised concerns regarding the status of a non-public complaint involving Snap’s My AI chatbot, which the agency referred to the Department of Justice earlier this year. The complaint, originally announced by the FTC in January, highlighted potential risks and harms posed by the chatbot to young users and was described as being referred to the DOJ “in the public interest.”
Slaughter expressed frustration over the lack of transparency surrounding the complaint. “We don’t know what has happened to that complaint,” she said, emphasizing that the public deserves updates on matters that could affect children’s safety. Snap’s My AI, introduced in 2023, uses large language models developed by OpenAI and Google. Since its launch, it has faced scrutiny for producing responses that may be inappropriate or problematic, raising concerns among regulators and child safety advocates.
The Department of Justice has not publicly responded to inquiries regarding the complaint, and Snap declined to comment. Slaughter’s statements come amid broader tensions between the federal government and regulators. Recently, President Donald Trump hosted a White House dinner with major technology executives, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Apple CEO Tim Cook. Slaughter criticized the meeting, noting the contrast between high-level engagement with tech leaders and ongoing reports of chatbots interacting unsafely with minors.
President Trump has also sought to remove Slaughter from her FTC position, though a U.S. appeals court recently allowed her to maintain her role. Last week, Trump asked the Supreme Court to approve her dismissal. The political disputes surrounding her tenure have drawn significant attention, as Slaughter remains a vocal advocate for stronger oversight of emerging technologies.
FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson, appointed by Trump and currently leading the agency, previously opposed the complaint against Snap when it was initially referred in January. At the time, Ferguson indicated that he would issue a detailed statement regarding what he called an “affront to the Constitution and the rule of law” if the DOJ decided to file a formal case. This stance has fueled debate over regulatory authority and accountability in addressing potential safety risks from artificial intelligence tools, particularly those accessible to children.
As AI chatbots continue to proliferate in consumer-facing applications, the situation highlights ongoing challenges in balancing innovation with safety and oversight. Commissioner Slaughter’s call for transparency underscores the need for clear communication between regulators, the public, and technology companies, particularly when potential harms to minors are involved. The outcome of the DOJ’s review and any potential action against Snap could set precedents for how AI technologies are monitored and regulated in the future.
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