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Conservative Activist Files $15 Million Lawsuit Against Google Over AI Defamation Claims
Conservative activist Robby Starbuck has filed a lawsuit against Google seeking at least $15 million in damages, alleging the tech giant’s artificial intelligence programs falsely portrayed him as a “monster” to millions of users through fabricated criminal accusations.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Delaware Superior Court, accuses Google of negligence and actual malice for generating false AI statements about Starbuck, including fabricated claims that he has been accused of sexual assault, rape, harassment, and other serious crimes.
“My lawyer sent multiple cease-and-desist letters,” Starbuck told Fox News Digital. “The breaking point for me was when they accused me of child rape. That was where I was like, ‘We have to just go forward with the lawsuit. They’re clearly not taking this seriously. It’s escalating into something much more serious and crazy.'”
Starbuck claims Google’s AI products — Bard, Gemini, and Gemma — began spreading false information about him in 2023 and have continued despite his repeated notifications to company executives. According to the lawsuit, Gemini itself allegedly stated that its falsehoods about Starbuck were shown to more than 2.8 million unique users.
The activist said the recent assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk heightened his concerns about the potential real-world consequences of such misinformation. “Some crazy person could believe this stuff,” he explained, underscoring his motivation to take legal action.
In his own show, “The Robby Starbuck Show,” he detailed the extent of the alleged defamation: “These answers include elaborate rape allegations that Google created, a lengthy criminal record including stalking, drug charges and resisting arrest. Elaborate accusations that I’ve been arrested for murder, and much, much more, including an accusation that I flew on Jeffrey Epstein’s plane and that I sexually assaulted a minor. None of that has any truth, of course.”
Google has pushed back against Starbuck’s assertions. Spokesperson José Castañeda told Fox News Digital: “Most of these claims relate to hallucinations in Bard that we addressed in 2023. Hallucinations are a well-known issue for all LLMs, which we disclose and work hard to minimize. But, as everyone knows, if you’re creative enough, you can prompt a chatbot to say something misleading.”
The company also stated it was unable to replicate these results in its consumer products, which is how most people experience Google’s AI. Google believes some allegations may relate to Gemma, an open model for developers to build and customize, which it considers “fundamentally different” from consumer-facing applications like the Gemini App.
A test by Fox News Digital found that when asked about criminal accusations against Starbuck, Google Gemini generated a response acknowledging that such accusations exist but are “primarily reported as false claims generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems.”
This isn’t Starbuck’s first legal battle with a tech giant over AI-generated content. Earlier this year, he settled with Meta after suing the company for similar defamation allegations involving its AI chatbot. As part of that settlement, Starbuck now serves as a consultant to Meta, working with its product policy team to combat political bias in AI models and reduce the risk of “hallucinations.”
Starbuck believes his Google lawsuit could establish an important precedent about accountability for AI platforms. “There’s many ways it can make human lives easier, but I’m also a realist, and there’s serious danger here,” he said.
“Right now, the AI believes it’s OK to harm humans and defame them as long as it’s in the interest of how it was programmed,” Starbuck added. “That’s an incredibly dangerous thing to bake into artificial intelligence, because today it’s your reputation, it’s defaming a person.”
The case highlights growing concerns about AI’s potential to spread misinformation and the legal responsibilities of tech companies that develop and deploy these systems. As AI becomes more integrated into everyday information services, questions about liability for AI-generated falsehoods are likely to become increasingly significant for both technology providers and the public.
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22 Comments
This is an important case that could set precedents around liability for AI-generated content. Starbuck is right to pursue legal action to protect his rights.
Lawsuits like this may help drive home the need for more rigorous testing and validation of AI systems before deployment, to avoid these kinds of issues.
This is a concerning situation that raises important questions about the ethical use of AI. Starbuck deserves justice, and the industry needs to learn from this experience.
Agreed, AI-generated defamation is a serious issue that requires robust solutions. I’m curious to see how this case unfolds and what precedents it may set.
This is a troubling case that speaks to the broader challenges of regulating emerging technologies like AI. Starbuck is taking an important stand.
It will be interesting to see if this lawsuit leads to new legal precedents around AI-generated content and defamation. This could have wide-ranging implications.
Falsely accusing someone of serious crimes is no small matter. I hope Starbuck is able to get the justice and restitution he deserves through this lawsuit.
The details around how Google’s AI models generated these false claims will be crucial. Transparency and accountability from tech companies is paramount.
The stakes are high in this case, both for Starbuck and for the future of AI regulation. I hope the courts take it seriously and deliver a fair ruling.
Agreed, this is a complex issue that deserves careful consideration. Responsible development and use of AI should be a top priority for tech companies.
I’m curious to see how Google responds to these allegations. Starbuck seems to have a strong case, but the tech giant may fight back aggressively.
This highlights the need for greater transparency and oversight around the development and use of AI models. Starbuck deserves justice.
Starbuck’s lawsuit highlights the urgent need for stronger safeguards and accountability measures around AI systems. This case could have far-reaching consequences.
I hope this case leads to meaningful changes in how AI models are developed and deployed, to prevent such harmful misinformation in the future.
This is a cautionary tale about the potential for AI to cause real harm if not developed and deployed responsibly. Starbuck’s lawsuit may help set important precedents.
Agreed, the implications of this case could be far-reaching for the AI industry. It will be interesting to see how the courts rule.
This is a serious case of AI-generated misinformation with damaging real-world consequences. Starbuck seems justified in taking legal action against Google to clear his name and protect his reputation.
It’s concerning to see AI models spreading false claims, even about individuals. Oversight and accountability for these systems is critical.
The lawsuit highlights the risks of unchecked AI generating harmful falsehoods. Responsible development and deployment of these technologies is essential to prevent abuse.
I agree, the alleged claims about Starbuck are very troubling. Appropriate safeguards need to be in place to ensure AI remains truthful and doesn’t unfairly defame people.
False accusations of crimes can be incredibly damaging, both legally and reputationally. Starbuck is right to take this to court and demand accountability.
Agreed, the alleged actions by Google’s AI systems are unacceptable. I hope this lawsuit leads to meaningful changes in the industry.