Robby Starbuck, an activist known for his opposition to corporate diversity initiatives, has initiated legal proceedings against Google. He claims that the company’s AI search tools inaccurately associated him with allegations of sexual assault and extremist figure Richard Spencer. This lawsuit marks Starbuck’s second high-profile case against a major technology firm regarding its AI products.
In April 2023, Starbuck filed a lawsuit against Meta, asserting that its AI incorrectly suggested he was involved in the January 6th Capitol attack and had been arrested for a misdemeanor. That case was settled when Meta appointed Starbuck as an advisor to help address perceived “ideological and political bias” in its chatbot systems.
A spokesperson for Google, José Castañeda, stated that the company would “review the complaint when we receive it.” He acknowledged that many of the issues raised by Starbuck pertain to “hallucinations” produced by Google’s AI model, Bard. Castañeda emphasized that hallucinations are a recognized challenge for large language models (LLMs), noting that Google actively works to mitigate these occurrences while also disclosing the limitations of its technology.
Starbuck’s lawsuit was filed in the Delaware Superior Court, where he is seeking $15 million in damages from Google. The outcome of this case may hinge on the legal precedents surrounding defamation claims involving AI, which remain largely untested in U.S. courts. Notably, no court has awarded damages in a defamation case linked to an AI chatbot to date.
In 2023, conservative radio host Mark Walters brought a lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming that its chatbot had defamed him by associating him with allegations of fraud and embezzlement. The court ruled in favor of OpenAI, determining that Walters did not demonstrate the necessary “actual malice” to succeed in his claim.
The legal landscape surrounding AI technologies is evolving, and Starbuck’s case could become a significant point of reference as courts begin to address these novel issues. While the precise terms of the settlement with Meta remain undisclosed, the move appears part of a broader strategy by the company to ease tensions with right-leaning individuals and groups.
As Starbuck pursues his case against Google, observers may question whether he seeks merely financial compensation or a more influential role within the company, akin to his current position at Meta. The intersection of AI technology and personal reputations poses complex challenges that will likely require ongoing legal scrutiny as these technologies continue to develop.
