Google Takes Legal Action to Protect Users of AI Tool Bard from Facebook Scam
In a groundbreaking move, Google has filed a lawsuit to protect users of its generative AI tool, Bard, from falling victim to a Facebook scam. The tech giant alleges that fake ads advertising Bard’s fraudulent versions have been circulating on the social media platform, targeting small businesses in the United States. These deceptive ads prompt users to download Bard, even though it is a web-based product that does not require any downloads. Unfortunately, unsuspecting users who fell for the scam ended up downloading malware that compromised their social media credentials and exposed their accounts.
Google’s lawsuit aims to disable any existing domains associated with the scam and prevent the alleged fraudsters, located in Vietnam and India, from creating additional traps. This legal action marks the first of its kind in the AI industry and highlights Google’s commitment to protecting its users from cyber threats. According to Halimah DeLaine Prado, Google’s general counsel, the company’s intention is to safeguard consumers and small businesses while establishing necessary legal precedents in emerging fields of innovation.
Although Google has taken down approximately 300 fake ads on Facebook, the extent of the impact on users and the motives of the hackers remain unclear. This situation emphasizes both the immense hype surrounding generative artificial intelligence and the limited understanding of these products among the general public. Many individuals eagerly seek to utilize AI tools like Bard, and major tech companies are actively developing safeguards to prevent users from falling into such traps.
In a separate lawsuit also filed on Monday, Google targeted a group of bad actors who abused copyright law to wrongfully remove over 100,000 business websites. These fraudulent claims, made under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), caused financial losses amounting to millions of dollars and impaired countless hours of work for affected businesses. Google’s legal action intends to halt this undesirable activity and discourage others from engaging in similar practices. While the DMCA was created to protect users from copyright disputes, the misuse of content moderation has long been a concern associated with the provision.
In a blog post, Google stated, Today’s actions are part of our ongoing legal strategy to protect consumers and small businesses and establish needed legal precedents in emerging fields of innovation. The company, along with OpenAI and other industry players, is actively promoting comprehensive copyright infringement protections to instill confidence in the use of generative AI products without the fear of legal repercussions.
As the technology continues to advance, Google’s proactive measures aim to ensure the safe and responsible utilization of AI tools. The lawsuits underscore the importance of user protection in the fast-growing field of AI and signal a resolute commitment from tech companies to safeguard their users’ interests. With the legal actions underway, Google aims to bring cyber fraudsters to justice, protect countless small businesses, and create a secure environment for future AI innovations.
