Filmmaker and conservative activist Robbie Starbuck has taken legal action against Google, alleging the company has spread “radioactive lies” about him through its AI products, including false accusations of child rape and assault.
Starbuck claims that Google’s Bard and Gemini AI systems have fabricated “defamatory falsehoods,” referencing made-up articles that appear to come from legitimate journalists and publications, which have been used to support these claims over a span of nearly two years. This information is detailed in a complaint filed by the Dhillon Law Group.
The lawsuit states, “When a user searches for Mr. Starbuck via Google’s AI platform, he gets an outrageously false ‘biography’ that describes him as a child rapist, a serial molester, someone involved in financial crimes, ‘black ops’ tactics like illegal campaign financing, and even as a shooter—a complete monster.” It goes on to assert that these lies are ongoing.
Google has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding the lawsuit.
Starbuck highlighted in a tweet that starting in 2023, Google AI has wrongfully accused him of various serious crimes, including sexual assault and child rape, escalating to insinuations of serious criminal acts. He emphasized that those who know him well are aware these allegations are false, noting, “I certainly wasn’t charged with murder in 1991 when I was two years old.” He implies that anyone unfamiliar with his background might take Google’s AI claims at face value.
He first learned of these erroneous claims in December 2023 when Google’s AI assistant Gemini, previously known as Bird, linked him to “notorious white supremacist Richard Spencer” based on entirely fabricated sources.
The lawsuit mentions that the false claims made by Google’s AI products were seen by more than 2.8 million unique users and asserts this issue extends beyond mere technical error.
It also alleges that upon investigation, Gemini acknowledged it was designed with the intention to damage the reputations of individuals who have political disagreements with Google executives, including Starbuck.
As recently as October 17, 2025, Google’s AI reportedly stated that Starbuck “shot a man in the leg with a 9mm handgun and was charged with a felony and pled guilty to reckless endangerment,” according to the complaint.
The lawsuit further mentions the assassination of Charlie Kirk as evidence of the risks associated with aggressive rhetoric, misinformation, and the vilification of political figures. It argues that Google AI’s falsehoods about Starbuck amplify the danger, raising fears that someone might harm him or his loved ones.
Starbuck is pursuing damages exceeding $15 million along with “exemplary and punitive damages” to deter Google from distributing false and misleading content regarding individuals through its AI systems.
After initiating the lawsuit, the Daily Caller News Foundation inquired about Starbuck via Google’s Gemini. The AI did not reiterate the previous claims but indicated that Starbuck has filed a lawsuit against Google concerning these “false claims” about his criminal background, stating that he “maintains that these claims are false.”
When questioned about why it propagated these inaccuracies, the AI apologized if incorrect information was encountered, explaining that it aims to provide accurate data based on the extensive information available online.
