Yazılar

Conservative Activist Robby Starbuck Sues Google Over Defamatory AI ‘Hallucinations’

/in /tarafından

Conservative activist Robby Starbuck has filed a lawsuit against Google, accusing the company’s artificial intelligence systems of generating and spreading false and defamatory claims about him, including labeling him a “child rapist,” “serial sexual abuser,” and “shooter.”

The complaint, filed in Delaware state court, alleges that Google’s Bard and Gemma chatbots produced fabricated statements that reached millions of users, citing non-existent sources and failing to correct errors after being notified. Starbuck is seeking at least $15 million in damages.

A Google spokesperson, Jose Castaneda, acknowledged that the allegations stem from AI “hallucinations” — a known issue with large language models (LLMs) where systems generate false or misleading information. “We disclose this issue and work hard to minimize it,” Castaneda said. “But as everyone knows, if you’re creative enough, you can prompt a chatbot to say something misleading.”

Starbuck, a vocal critic of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, said the false claims have caused reputational damage and personal safety risks. “No one — regardless of political beliefs — should ever experience this,” he said. “We must demand transparent, unbiased AI that cannot be weaponized to harm people.”

The lawsuit details how, in December 2023, Bard falsely linked Starbuck to white nationalist Richard Spencer using fabricated citations. Later, Google’s Gemma chatbot allegedly repeated similar falsehoods, accusing Starbuck of spousal abuse, participation in the January 6 riots, and even appearing in Jeffrey Epstein’s files.

Starbuck said these false claims have led to harassment and threats, citing the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk as evidence of escalating risks for public figures.

This is not Starbuck’s first legal battle with Big Tech. He previously sued Meta Platforms over similar AI-generated falsehoods earlier this year; the two parties settled in August, and Starbuck has since advised Meta on AI ethics and accuracy.

The case highlights growing concerns over AI defamation risks and the legal responsibilities of tech companies deploying generative models capable of producing false, reputationally damaging statements.

Belgium Considers Power Limits for Data Centres Amid AI-Driven Energy Surge

/in /tarafından

Belgium’s electricity grid operator Elia is weighing plans to introduce energy allocation limits for data centres, as a wave of AI-fueled demand threatens to strain the country’s power network and crowd out other industries.

Under the proposal, Elia would place data centres in a separate consumption category, giving them a fixed share of grid capacity. The move aims to prevent high-energy facilities from monopolising the grid while still allowing flexible connections that could be curtailed during peak demand or congestion.

The proposal comes as the global race to build AI data infrastructure drives electricity demand to unprecedented levels. In Belgium alone, requests from data centre operators have surged ninefold since 2022, Elia told Reuters. Reserved capacity for 2034 already exceeds twice the 8 terawatt-hours projected in national grid development plans.

“These volumes were not anticipated when Belgium’s grid scenarios were designed,” Elia said, warning that speculative projects risk blocking capacity for other sectors if left unchecked.

The issue will be addressed in Belgium’s next federal grid development plan (2028–2038), Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet told parliament this week. “I will pay particular attention to this during the plan’s approval,” he said.

Belgium’s debate reflects a broader European challenge: balancing energy-intensive AI operations with industrial and environmental goals. Data centres—essential for AI model training and cloud computing—are rapidly becoming one of Europe’s largest sources of new electricity demand.

Tech giants such as Google are already ramping up investment. The U.S. company plans to spend €5 billion ($5.8 billion) expanding its Belgian data centre campuses as part of its global AI strategy.

If approved, Elia’s proposal could make Belgium one of the first European nations to formally cap grid access for AI infrastructure—signalling a shift toward tighter energy governance in the digital age.

UK Targets Apple and Google’s Smartphone Dominance with New Competition Powers

/in /tarafından

Britain’s competition regulator has designated Apple and Google as firms with “strategic market status” (SMS), giving it new powers to demand changes to how the two tech giants operate their smartphone ecosystems.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Wednesday that the move would allow it to introduce targeted interventions to promote innovation and competition in the mobile market, where the dominance of Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android platforms gives them vast control over app stores, browsers, and digital services.

The CMA said the designations were not findings of wrongdoing but would enable oversight of both firms’ practices, such as app store restrictions and payment rules that may limit competition.

The decision aligns Britain with other major economies — including the United States, European Union, and Japan — that have been tightening regulation on the two companies’ market power.

Apple warned that copying the EU’s interventionist approach could “undermine privacy and security” for users, while Google described the decision as “disappointing and unwarranted”, urging the regulator to ensure its actions remain “pro-growth and pro-innovation.”

Nearly all smartphones in the UK run on either Apple or Google systems, with both firms controlling access to their platforms through app store policies and in-house browsers.

Tom Smith, a former CMA director, said the new powers could lead to fairer conditions for app developers — including the right to inform users of cheaper deals outside official app stores, similar to measures adopted in the U.S.

However, industry trade body CCIA cautioned that the “opaque” SMS process might deter tech investment, urging regulators to balance oversight with economic growth.

The CMA emphasized that any future interventions would be “proportionate and targeted” to ensure competition flourishes without stifling innovation in the UK’s tech sector.