Google Battles Defamation Lawsuit Over AI-Generated Claims
Key Points
- Google files motion to dismiss defamation suit by activist Robby Starbuck.
- Starbuck claims Google's AI falsely linked him to sexual assault and white nationalist labels.
- He seeks $15 million in damages and previously sued Meta over similar AI claims.
- Meta settled its case and hired Starbuck as an advisor on AI bias.
- Google argues the allegations stem from misuse of developer tools that cause hallucinations.
- No U.S. court has yet awarded damages for AI‑generated defamation.
- Starbuck did not disclose prompts used or identify any person misled by the AI output.
- The case highlights emerging legal challenges around responsibilities for AI‑produced content.
Google has filed a motion to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought by activist Robby Starbuck, who alleges the company's AI falsely linked him to sexual assault accusations and white nationalist ideology. Starbuck, who previously sued Meta over similar AI-generated allegations, is seeking $15 million in damages. Google argues the claims stem from misuse of developer tools that induce hallucinations and notes that no U.S. court has yet awarded damages for AI defamation. The case highlights growing legal challenges surrounding artificial‑intelligence outputs.
Background
Activist Robby Starbuck, known for his criticism of corporate diversity initiatives, filed a defamation lawsuit against Google. He asserts that the company's artificial‑intelligence system produced statements that falsely associated him with sexual assault allegations and identified him as a white nationalist.
Legal Claims
Starbuck is seeking $15 million in damages from Google. His lawsuit follows a prior action against Meta, where he claimed the social‑media giant's AI incorrectly asserted his participation in the January 6 Capitol riot. Meta settled that case in August and subsequently hired Starbuck as an advisor to address perceived ideological and political bias in its chatbot.
Google's Defense
In its motion to dismiss, Google contends that Starbuck's allegations represent a "misuse of developer tools to induce hallucinations." The company points out that Starbuck did not disclose the specific prompts used to generate the disputed outputs, nor did he identify any individual who was actually misled by the AI statements. Google emphasizes that, to date, no U.S. court has awarded damages for defamation caused by an AI chatbot.
Industry Context
The lawsuit underscores a broader debate over the legal responsibilities of technology firms for content produced by generative AI systems. While Meta chose to settle and engage the plaintiff in advisory capacity, Google is opting to contest the claims in court. The outcome could set a precedent for how courts handle claims of AI‑induced defamation and the extent to which developers are liable for the outputs of their tools.
Current Status
Google has not responded to requests for comment beyond its filed motion, and Starbuck has not provided a response to inquiries about his case. The dispute remains pending as the parties await judicial review of Google's request to dismiss the lawsuit.