Wed Oct 22 19:22:48 UTC 2025: Conservative Activist Robby Starbuck Sues Google Over AI-Generated Defamation
Delaware – Conservative activist Robby Starbuck has filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging that the tech giant’s artificial intelligence systems generated false and defamatory statements about him. The lawsuit, filed in Delaware state court on Wednesday, claims Google’s AI, specifically the Bard and Gemma chatbots, falsely accused Starbuck of being a “child rapist,” “serial sexual abuser,” and “shooter,” disseminating these claims to millions of users.
Starbuck, known for his opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, is seeking at least $15 million in damages. He alleges the false accusations have led to increased threats against his life, citing the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda acknowledged the issue of “hallucinations” in large language models (LLMs), stating the company has worked to minimize these errors. “Hallucinations are a well-known issue for all LLMs, which we disclose and work hard to minimise,” Castaneda said. “But as everyone knows, if you’re creative enough, you can prompt a chatbot to say something misleading.”
According to the lawsuit, Starbuck first became aware of the AI’s false claims in December 2023, when Bard falsely connected him to white nationalist Richard Spencer, citing fabricated sources. The suit further alleges that Gemma disseminated false sexual assault allegations in August, also based on fictitious sources. Starbuck claims the chatbots also falsely accused him of spousal abuse, attending the January 6 Capitol riots, and appearing in the Jeffrey Epstein files.
This lawsuit comes amid growing concerns about the potential for AI to fuel the spread of misinformation. It echoes similar claims made against Meta Platforms by Starbuck, which resulted in a settlement where he advised the company on AI issues.
The lawsuit highlights the challenges of ensuring accuracy and preventing the weaponization of AI technology, particularly in the context of online discourse.
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