Google Files Lawsuit Against Counterfeit Copies Of Bard AI: All You Need To Know

Google accuses the defendants of violating its terms of service by assuming the company's identity and hosting the malware.

Google on Monday initiated legal proceedings in a California federal court against unnamed individuals alleged to be involved in the promotion of counterfeit downloads of its artificial intelligence chatbot, Bard. The lawsuit claims that these individuals, identified as Does 1-3 in the complaint, are employing deceptive practices by utilizing trademarks such as "Google AI" and "AIGoogleBard" to entice users into installing malware on their computers.

According to Google, the malevolent actors exploit these fake downloads to surreptitiously install malware capable of pilfering social media login credentials. Halimah DeLaine Prado, Google's general counsel, stated that the perpetrators have deceived numerous individuals globally, prompting the company to submit nearly 300 takedown requests in response.

DeLaine Prado emphasised the efficacy of such legal actions, characterising them as instrumental in establishing legal precedents, disrupting the tools employed by scammers, and heightening the repercussions for illicit activities. The lawsuit underscores the escalating incorporation of artificial intelligence into various products by tech companies, with Google publicly releasing Bard in March.

The legal complaint outlines the scammers' modus operandi, detailing their use of social media posts and web pages to promote purportedly free downloads of Bard, despite the fact that the chatbot is not legitimately downloadable. The malware, downloaded by unsuspecting victims, serves as the conduit for the unauthorised takeover of their social media accounts. Notably, the lawsuit asserts that small businesses and other Facebook advertisers are among the targets of this deceptive scheme.

Additionally, Google accuses the defendants of violating its terms of service by assuming the company's identity and hosting the malware on platforms such as Google Sites and Google Drive. The tech giant is seeking court intervention to halt the fraudulent scheme and is pursuing damages, including the profits acquired by the scammers. The lawsuit underscores the broader challenge tech companies face in safeguarding their users and platforms from evolving cyber threats.