The sex chatbot was funded using taxpayers money in a multi million pound aid scheme to “invest in radical technology solutions” in the developing world
A sexchatbot designed to give “pleasure” to online users has been funded by aid money from the UK.
British taxpayers have funded the app, which was created by Kenyan teens as part of an aid project to help the developing world. The app was built as part of a £41m UK aid programme which aims to “invest in radical technology solutions” across places in the developing world.
And as part of the British taxpayer money handed over, a portion was given to a group who have created a chatbot to talk to teens about nookie. The ‘Nena’ chatbot is billed as a “pleasure-oriented digital companion for young people exploring their sexual health” and is aimed at those between the ages of 18 and 24.
It is the latest bizarre tech project we have forked out for, following in the footsteps of other projects which have received taxpayer funding including a “pay-as-you-chill” cold storage unit in Zambia and smart contraceptive vending machines in Nairobi.
Some fuming MPs have now asked why taxpayers’ money is being “wasted” on such schemes and said there now must be a review of foreign aid spending. Other portions of taxpayers’ money have also been spent on a £52million road to nowhere through the Amazon rainforest and a push to stop ocean plastic pollution in landlocked African countries.
Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, said: “Britain is a country, not a charity. In this ever-changing world UK Aid must serve our national interest.
“Aid allocations have not been strategic enough and far too much money has been funnelled into inappropriate projects without scrutiny or conditionality.”
The sex chatbot was funded in 2019 as part of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Ideas to Impact aid programme which it says is aimed at “testing new technologies and innovative approaches to address development challenges”.
The chatbot was designed to encourage safe sex in Kenya, which has the third-largest HIV epidemic in the world and where more than half of new infections are among the young. Developers said the chatbot helped young Kenyans to access information on sexual pleasure tips as there was a strong interest in information on how to give and receive sexual pleasure”.
The topics of sex and pleasure made up about 70% of the total number of app views, a review found.
Lee Anderson, Reform MP for Ashfield, said it is “more proof that foreign aid needs slashing”.
He said: “I remember a time when money sent abroad was meant to help irrigate and farm the land in poorer countries. British taxpayers’ money should not be being wasted on these ridiculous schemes. Whoever dreamt up this idea needs sacking.”
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