Google Sues Unknown Entities for Malware Scheme Disguised as AI Chatbot Bard

Google LLC has initiated authorized proceedings in opposition to three nameless people, accusing them of orchestrating a classy malware distribution scheme beneath the guise of providing upgrades to Google’s AI chatbot, Bard. The lawsuit, filed on November 13, 2023, within the Northern District of California, San Jose Division, identifies the defendants as “Does 1-3,” reflecting Google’s present lack of particular identification.

Google alleges that the perpetrators have been exploiting the corporate’s logos, notably these associated to its AI merchandise like “Google, Google AI, and Bard.” By creating deceptive social media profiles and pages that mimic Google’s branding, these people have reportedly been luring victims into downloading malware. The fraud includes invites to obtain free copies of Bard and different AI instruments, purportedly from Google.

One placing instance supplied by Google features a screenshot of a bogus “Google AI” social media profile utilized by the con artists. These profiles and pages are designed to deceive customers into believing they’re interacting with official Google merchandise.

Upon following the supplied hyperlinks, customers unwittingly obtain malware, which is especially engineered to hijack social media login credentials. This scheme is claimed to focus on companies and advertisers primarily, exploiting their reliance on social media for advertising and marketing and communications.

In response to those fraudulent actions, Google has requested the court docket to grant a complete restraining order and award damages, together with attorneys’ prices. The tech large can be in search of everlasting injunctive aid for the harms brought on by the defendants, any income gained from the fraud, and different equitable aid deemed acceptable by the court docket.

This lawsuit emerges at a time when AI companies, particularly chatbot companies, are experiencing a major enhance in world customers. Current information reveals Google’s Bard bot attracting 49.7 million particular person visits every month, whereas OpenAI’s ChatGPT data over 100 million month-to-month logins and roughly 1.5 billion distinctive web site visits.

Over the previous yr, main tech corporations like Google, OpenAI, and Meta have been embroiled in varied authorized disputes. In July, Google confronted a class-action lawsuit, underscoring the authorized complexities within the quickly evolving AI and digital companies sector.

This case underscores the essential want for heightened digital safety measures as AI know-how turns into extra built-in into on a regular basis digital interactions. Google’s lawsuit not solely seeks to safeguard its personal mental property but in addition goals to guard unsuspecting customers from malicious cyber actions disguised as official AI choices.

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