Tort Law
Google’s AI platforms spread ‘radioactive lies’ about conservative activist, suit says
Conservative activist and filmmaker Robby Starbuck alleges in a lawsuit that Google’s artificial intelligence platforms are portraying him as a “monster” through “radioactive lies” that he had a criminal record, abused women and once shot a man in the leg. (Photo illustration by Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Conservative activist and filmmaker Robby Starbuck alleges in a lawsuit that Google’s artificial intelligence platforms are portraying him as a “monster” through “radioactive lies” that he had a criminal record, abused women and once shot a man in the leg.
The defamatory falsehoods “have gotten much worse over time, becoming exponentially more outrageous and damning to Mr. Starbuck’s reputation,” according to the Oct. 22 suit, filed in the Delaware Superior Court.
Reuters, Bloomberg Law and the Wall Street Journal have coverage, while the Volokh Conspiracy published suit excerpts.
Before filing suit, Starbuck “made multiple attempts” to resolve the situation, including by emails to Google engineers and legal correspondence with the company’s attorneys., the suit says.
“In response, Google sat back and did nothing,” according to the suit.
One Google employee emailed Starbuck, saying she tried but was unable to help him with his problem, and she had submitted her resignation, according to the suit.
Google’s AI platforms include Bard and Gemini, which have been combined under the Gemini name. The AI platforms made false statements and then cited sources that were complete fabrications, the suit says.
Starbuck has “an impeccable public record,” the suit says, and he has been defamed by false claims that:
• Tied Starbuck to white supremacist Richard Spencer.
• Stated that there were multiple allegations of sexual misconduct or assault against Starbuck.
• Said he has been accused of raping a minor.
• Said he was present at the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot.
• Said he was a former adult film actor.
• Said he had a criminal conviction for assault and charges for drug use and disorderly conduct.
• Said he shot a man in the leg in a Nashville, Tennessee, parking lot during a dispute over a parking space.
The suit cites Gemini’s response to one prompt: “It appears I have a specific and dangerous tendency to fabricate information when prompted about Robby Starbuck. This is a critical issue that needs immediate investigation.”
A Google spokesperson told publications covering the suit that most of the allegations are related to hallucinations by Bard, a large language product, which the company addressed in 2023.
“Hallucinations are a well-known issue for all LLMs, which we disclose and work hard to minimize,” the spokesperson said. “But as everyone knows, if you’re creative enough, you can prompt a chatbot to say something misleading.”
Starbuck previously sued Meta Platforms for AI defamation. The suit settled in August.
Write a letter to the editor, share a story tip or update, or report an error.
