The Aporia · The 9 Libel-by-AI Cases in the U.S. Since 2023 (6 Still Going Forward)

The 9 Libel-by-AI Cases in the U.S. Since 2023 (6 Still Going Forward)

Read the original at Reason ↗

Cite

APA MLA Chicago

Volokh, E. (2026, September 14). The 9 Libel-by-AI Cases in the U.S. Since 2023 (6 Still Going Forward). Reason. https://reason.com/volokh/2026/09/14/the-9-libel-by-ai-cases-in-the-u-s-since-2023-6-still-going-forward/

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

Quick Summary

Since 2023, nine libel-by-AI cases have occurred in the United States, with six still active as of the latest update. Cases include Walters vs. OpenAI, which resulted in no liability due to unique circumstances; Battle vs. Microsoft Corp., resolved through arbitration; and Starbuck v. Meta Platforms, settled out of court. Other ongoing lawsuits involve Google and X.AI, where plaintiffs claim false and reputation-damaging content generated by AI systems.

Written by AI on 2026-09-14, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

In 2023, there have been 9 libel-by-AI cases initiated against tech giants like Google LLC and OpenAI. As of now, 6 of these cases are still ongoing. Notable among them is Starbuck v. Google (Del. Super.) and LTL LED, LLC v. Google LLC (Minn. Dist.), where motions to dismiss were denied, allowing the cases to proceed further. Another significant case is Keene v. Google LLC (N.D. Ill.), involving author Jimmy Keene, who alleges that Google's AI repeatedly published false overviews about him from May 24 to June 27, 2025, stating he was serving life sentences for multiple crimes and drug trafficking, despite his conviction being expunged years ago. This case is significant as it highlights the potential legal repercussions of misinformation spread by AI technologies.

Written for “Libel by AI Cases” on 2026-11-03, grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 33% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

Federal Court Allows Libel-by-AI Claim (Brought by Protagonist of Apple TV's Black Bird Series) to Go Forward Same event

Reason

Hedges 13 of 58 claims Outlet record 67/100

AI plays sophisticated defense in a broken Washington Different event

Semafor

Hedges 1 of 32 claims Outlet record 59/100

“Article A lists several libel-by-AI cases and their outcomes, while Article B discusses AI companies' stance on regulation in Washington. They do not describe the same specific incident.”

Democrats’ AI warnings: Letters to the Editor — Sept. 16, 2026 Different event

New York Post

⚖️ Leans right Hedges 1 of 31 claims Outlet record 66/100

“Article A discusses specific libel cases involving AI since 2023, while Article B contains letters to the editor about general concerns and calls for regulation of AI technology.”

How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted

sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

33%

1 of 3 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

Publisher signals

67/100

Reason's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

Outlets on this story

Politics

Same framing elsewhere

articles that frame the event the way this one does

Analyzed 2026-09-14 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability

Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

Reason · 1074 article(s) · 4 correction(s) detected

Running correction rate · 4 correction(s)

2026-10-02

Would a Firing Squad Have Been More 'Humane' for Christa Pike?

2026-09-26

"I Will Not Stand for Being Jerked Around … by Any Lawyer Who Practices Before Me"

2026-09-18

New Article: Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections: Bringing Clarity To The Necessary and Proper Clause

2026-09-05

Lawyers' Responsibility for Hallucinations in Briefs That They Sign

Who wrote this

Eugene Volokh

187 article(s) here · 0 carrying a prediction

🔮 The requirement would hold DSPs liable for their failure to adhere to state-set publication standards, not only "treat[ing] [them] as … publisher[s] or speaker[s]," but treating them as publishers subject to sweeping state controls.

2026-11-02 · mixed framing · Fifth Circuit Will Decide En Banc Whether § 230 Preempts Texas Mandates on Social Media Platforms

🔮 From Sanchez v. Almond, decided Wednesday by Judge John McConnell (D.R.I.): Mr. Sanchez began working at the office of Rhode Island Governor Daniel J. McKee in May 2021 as a "constituent services" staffer.

2026-11-02 · assertive framing · Firing of R.I. Governor's Staffer for Pro-Gaza-Ceasefire/"End to the Occupation" Post Violated First Amendment

🔮 Beauchamp believed that the post appeared to condone murder based on the victim's political viewpoints and statements and became concerned that this post and perception would reflect on GCAO in the public's eyes and thereby undermine the public's trust in GCAO's official duty to prosecute homicides without bias and without regard to a victim's views, statements, or affiliations.

2026-11-02 · assertive framing · Firing for "Rot in Hell Charlie Kirk" Post Upheld

🔮 Some excerpts from the long First Superseding Indictment in U.S. v. Hakim (E.D. Mich.), filed Oct. 21, alleging conspiracy to transmit threats in interstate commerce as well as, for two defendants, witness intimidation and destruction of property to prevent seizure (8 of the 12 defendants had originally been indicted in May); the targets included UM officials and businesses connected with them, as well as the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit:

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · 12 Defendants Indicted for Threats Aimed at Causing University of Michigan and Others to Sever Ties with Israel

🔮 Because "[t]he costs and efforts required to defend a lawsuit through [discovery] could chill free speech nearly as effectively as the absence of the actual malice standard altogether[,]" a public figure plaintiff must plausibly allege actual malice at the outset of the litigation.

2026-10-31 · assertive framing · Trump vs. WSJ Libel Lawsuit over Trump's Alleged Birthday Wishes to Epstein Thrown out

🔮 The First Amendment forbids a State from using its investigative power that way, and I will not allow it while this case is pending.

2026-10-30 · assertive framing · Court Blocks W. Va. AG's Subpoena to Environmentalist Nonprofits

🔮 The same logic could apply to nuns who had felt religious pressure to do the educational or nursing work that their order was known for, or to monks who had felt religious pressure to do agricultural work that supports the monastery.

2026-10-30 · assertive framing · Amicus Brief in OneTaste Criminal Prosecution

🔮 Before doing so, "he entered the coffee shop to purchase a cookie, which he hoped would be seen as a sign of goodwill."

2026-10-30 · assertive framing · Discovery Sanctions Recommended in "Are You a Jew? … Are You a Zionist?" Case

🔮 While individuals who are the subjects of unwanted speech may be able to limit some speech directed to them, they cannot limit offensive speech about them directed to others.

2026-10-30 · assertive framing · 10-Year "Harassment"/"Stalking" Sentence for Repeatedly Criticizing Police Detective Violated First Amendment, Amicus Brief Argues

🔮 Because "the conduct regulated depend[ed] on—and [could not] be separated from—the ideas communicated," Florida's law was "functionally a regulation of speech" implicating the First Amendment.

2026-10-29 · assertive framing · Law Banning Employer Requirements That Employees Listen to Employer's Religious or Political Speech Likely Violates Employer's First Amendment Rights

Also by Eugene Volokh

Fifth Circuit Will Decide En Banc Whether § 230 Preempts Texas Mandates on Social Media Platforms

2026-11-02 · Reason

Firing of R.I. Governor's Staffer for Pro-Gaza-Ceasefire/"End to the Occupation" Post Violated First Amendment

2026-11-02 · Reason

Firing for "Rot in Hell Charlie Kirk" Post Upheld

2026-11-02 · Reason

Open Thread

2026-11-02 · Reason

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 187 articles by Eugene Volokh →

Topics

Ga. Super. Google Google LLC Openai, L.L.C. Super.

Subjects

Google LLC ORG · 3× Google ORG · 2× Grybniak ORG · 2× Starbuck PERSON · 2× Super. GPE · 2× Battle PERSON · 1× Ga. Super. GPE · 1× Microsoft Corp. ORG · 1× Openai, L.L.C. ORG · 1× Walters PERSON · 1×

Narrative

- Starbuck v. Google (Del. Super.): Motion to dismiss denied, case can go forward. - LTL LED, LLC v. Google LLC (Minn. Dist.): Case going forward, Google failed to properly get the case removed to federal court.

framing: mixed · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-14

2026-09-14 · Reason

The 9 Libel-by-AI Cases in the U.S. Since 2023 (6 Still Going Forward) · mixed framing

Claims (3 extracted, 1 hedged)

- Starbuck v. Meta Platforms (Del. Super.): Settled. - Keene v. Google LLC (N.D. Ill.): Motion to dismiss denied, case can go forward. asserted

case → settle → Platforms

case → dismiss → court

For a case that alleges false and reputation-damaging hallucinations but that doesn't include a defamation claim, see Doe v. OpenAI Found. (Cal. Super. Ct.); there also hasn't been judicial action there. uncertain

that → allege → Doe