Meta Executive Apologizes to Influencer Over AI Defamation Lawsuit

Menlo Park, California — A senior executive at Meta has publicly apologized to conservative influencer Robby Starbuck following a lawsuit claiming that the company’s AI chatbot produced false information about him.

Joel Kaplan, Meta’s chief global affairs officer, expressed regret in a post on X Tuesday night. Kaplan stated, “Robby — I watched your video — this is unacceptable. This is clearly not how our AI should operate.” His response followed Starbuck’s video detailing accusations that Meta’s AI wrongfully linked him to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and the QAnon conspiracy theory.

Kaplan acknowledged that the initial corrective actions did not address the root of the issue. “I’m working now with our product team to understand how this happened and explore potential solutions,” he added.

Starbuck’s claims are particularly notable given his rising presence in conservative media, where he has gained recognition for opposing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at various companies. He filed the lawsuit against Meta in Delaware state court shortly after Kaplan’s apology.

In a statement to NBC News, Starbuck criticized Kaplan’s apology as insufficient. He demanded a public apology from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, improvements to Meta’s AI systems, and compensation for the harm he claims to have suffered. “At the end of the day, these lies harmed me, my wife, and my kids. I want to ensure that never happens to anyone else no matter what their political beliefs are,” Starbuck stated.

Starbuck, a former music video producer from Tennessee, discovered last August that Meta’s AI was making false statements about him. He asserts he was in Tennessee on the day of the Capitol riot and has consistently criticized QAnon.

After contacting Meta about the chatbot’s false claims, Starbuck was informed that the company was looking into the matter. However, he contends that Meta failed to make necessary changes, and the chatbot subsequently generated even more serious allegations against him.

The lawsuit alleges defamation, seeking $5 million in general damages, along with punitive damages and an injunction against further defamatory statements. The case arrives at a challenging time for Meta, which is actively promoting its AI technology during a developer conference at its headquarters in Menlo Park.

Legal experts note that an existing law provides online platforms with defamation protections, but the ongoing evolution of AI may challenge that framework. As for the working of the AI chatbot, it is still unclear how it generated the incorrect information about Starbuck despite his search for possible sources.

Speaking about the AI’s unexpected behavior, Starbuck pointed to instances of AI “hallucinations,” where chatbots present inaccurate information. Meta has not provided further details on the nature of the allegations made against Starbuck, instead directing inquiries back to Kaplan’s earlier apology.

The developments surrounding Starbuck’s lawsuit come at a time when Meta is seeking to solidify its AI offerings amidst heightened scrutiny and competition in the tech space.