Conservative Activist Sues Google Over AI-Generated False Claims

Anti-diversity activist Robby Starbuck is suing Google now

Robby Starbuck is suing Google, claiming that its AI search tools falsely linked him to sexual assault allegations and white nationalist Richard Spencer. This is the second case that Starbuck, known for his online campaigns against corporate diversity efforts, has brought against a major tech company over its AI products. In April, Starbuck sued Meta, claiming that its AI falsely insisted that he participated in the January 6th attack on the Capitol and that he had been arrested for a misdemeanor. That suit was settled when Meta hired Starbuck as an advisor to combat "ideological and political bias" in its chatbot. Google spokesperson José Castañeda told The Verge that the company will "review the complaint when we receive it." However, he did say that, "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 exact terms of the Meta settlement are unknown, but it was part of a string of hires by Meta that seem aimed at quelling furor from the right. Whether or not Starbuck's suit would have succeeded on its merits is open for debate. The Wall Street Journal notes that no court in the US has awarded anyone damages in a defamation suit involving an AI chatbot. Conservative radio host Mark Walters sued OpenAI in 2023, claiming that ChatGPT had defamed him by linking him to accusations of fraud and embezzlement. However, the court found in favor of OpenAI, saying that Walters had failed to prove "actual malice." That being said, LLMs and AI chatbots are very new technologies, and there is still a lack of legal precedent surrounding them. Starbuck filed suit in the Delaware Superior Court and is seeking $15 million in damages from Google, according to the Wall Street Journal. But chances are he'd be just as happy with a position of influence at the company, as he managed to secure at Meta.

Conservative activist sues Google over AI-generated statements - The Economic Times

Conservative activist Robby Starbuck has sued Google, claiming its AI tools spread false and damaging claims about him, including accusations of sexual assault and violence. He says Google ignored his complaints and seeks $15 million in damages. Google admits AI "hallucinations" occur but says it works to reduce them.Conservative activist Robby Starbuck sued Google on Wednesday, alleging the tech giant's artificial intelligence systems generated "outrageously false" information about him. Starbuck said in the lawsuit, filed in Delaware state court, that Google's AI systems falsely called him a "child rapist," "serial sexual abuser" and "shooter" in response to user queries and delivered defamatory statements to millions of users. Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said most of the claims were related to mistaken "hallucinations" from Google's Bard large language model that the company worked to address in 2023. "Hallucinations are a well-known issue for all LLMs, which we disclose and work hard to minimize," Castaneda said. "But as everyone knows, if you're creative enough, you can prompt a chatbot to say something misleading." Starbuck is best known for opposing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. "No one - regardless of political beliefs - should ever experience this," he said in a statement about the lawsuit. "Now is the time for all of us to demand transparent, unbiased AI that cannot be weaponized to harm people." Starbuck made similar allegations against Meta Platforms in a separate lawsuit in April. Starbuck and Meta settled their dispute in August, and Starbuck advised the company on AI issues under the settlement. According to Wednesday's complaint, Starbuck learned in December 2023 that Bard had falsely connected him with white nationalist Richard Spencer. The lawsuit said that Bard cited fabricated sources and that Google failed to address the statements after Starbuck contacted the company. Starbuck's lawsuit also said that Google's Gemma chatbot disseminated false sexual assault allegations against him in August based on fictitious sources. Starbuck also alleged the chatbot said that he committed spousal abuse, attended the January 6 Capitol riots and appeared in the Jeffrey Epstein files, among other things. Starbuck said he has been approached by people who believed some of the false accusations and that they could lead to increased threats on his life, noting the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Starbuck asked the court for at least $15 million in damages.

Anti-DEI crusader sues Google after AI bot accused him of sex...

Conservative influencer Robby Starbuck is suing Google after he alleged that its artificial intelligence-powered chatbot falsely linked him to a sexual assault allegation as well as to notorious white nationalist Richard Spencer. Starbuck, who has racked up wins by forcing some of America's largest companies to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, filed the defamation suit against the tech giant on Wednesday in Delaware Superior Court, according to the Wall Street Journal. Starbuck is reportedly seeking more than $15 million in damages from Google. The complaint alleges that Bard, a precursor to Google Gemini, inaccurately tied Starbuck to Spencer, who is best known for having played a prominent role during the 2017 "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Va. Starbuck has also alleged that Gemma and Gemini, two of Google's AI tools, inaccurately stated that he had been accused of sexual assault and that he took part in the US Capitol riots of Jan. 6, 2021. Starbuck was never accused of sexual assault nor did he take part in the Capitol riots. "Most of these claims relate to hallucinations in Bard that we addressed in 2023," a Google spokesperson told The Post. "Hallucinations are a well known issue for all LLMs, which we disclose and work hard to minimize." According to the spokesperson, "if you're creative enough, you can prompt a chatbot to say something misleading." "We'll review the complaint when we receive it," the company rep said. The Post has sought comment from Starbuck. Last year, Google temporarily disabled its Gemini chatbot after it generated historically inaccurate images and depictions that were slammed as "woke." The search giant turn off Gemini's ability to create pictures of humans in late February of last year after it produced bizarre ahistorical photos such as Black Vikings and "diverse" Nazi-era German soldiers. Starbuck, a former music video director from a Cuban-American family, reinvented himself as a prominent conservative activist leading campaigns against DEI policies. Since 2024, he has used social media to organize boycotts and pressure major companies -- including Walmart, Ford and John Deere -- to scale back DEI and ESG initiatives. Starbuck now serves as a speaker and adviser on conservative business issues, positioning himself as a central figure in the movement challenging DEI programs across corporate America.

Conservative Activist Robby Starbuck Sues Google For Defamation Over False Claims Generated by AI

The lawsuit claims Google falsely accused the conservative activist of child rape, sexual assault, and attempted murder. Conservative activist Robby Starbuck -- best known for his attacks on corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion policies -- says he is suing Google, alleging its artificial intelligence products have defamed him with fake allegations of criminal sexual assault, child rape, attempted murder, as well as assertions that his name appeared in the Jeffrey Epstein flight logs. "All 100% fake. All generated by Google's AI. I have ZERO criminal record or allegations," Mr. Starbuck said in an X post on Wednesday morning announcing the lawsuit. Mr. Starbuck said he became aware of the issue in 2023 while using one of the company's early AI tools. Mr. Starbuck posted about the problem at the time on X and tagged Google and its CEO. "Imagine a future where Bard is used to decide whether you get a loan, if you're approved for adoption," Mr. Starbuck stated. He says Google didn't do anything about his complaints and claims the company's AI admitted he was targeted because of his political views. "Even worse -- Google execs KNEW for 2 YEARS that this was happening because I told them and my lawyers sent cease and desist letters multiple times," Mr. Starbuck added. Mr. Starbuck also claims Google AI fabricated statements from President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Elon Musk denouncing him. The lawsuit states that Google's AI cited fake sources by creating fake links to real media outlets with fake headlines to make the information look legitimate. He said some of the media outlets that Google claimed to have cited for the fake claims included Fox News, the Daily Wire, the Daily Beast, CNN and MSNBC. "As a rule: AI must never harm humans. It must never defame or manipulate -- no matter your politics," Mr. Starbuck stated. Last month, Google's parent company, Alphabet, acknowledged to the House Judiciary Committee that it had bowed to Biden administration pressure to censor content. The company said it was reinstating YouTube accounts that received permanent bans and changed policies to avoid censorship. "YouTube values conservative voices on its platform and recognizes that these creators have extensive reach and play an important role in civic discourse," the company wrote in a letter to the committee. Mr. Starbuck is now calling on congressional Republicans to reevaluate what Google has been telling them about how they are working to be unbiased. Google did not immediately reply to a New York Sun request for comment but a spokesman earlier told the Wall Street Journal that, "We will review the complaint when we receive it."