Tech Giant Google Sues Scammers for Copyright Infringement
Google filed a lawsuit against entities it alleges attempted to use copyright laws and the hype around artificial intelligence to deceive the public on Facebook. The scammers used social media and fake ads that used Google’s logo to trick victims into downloading malware under the guise of getting the latest version of Bard, Google’s flagship artificial intelligence platform.
In its filing, Google said the scammers advertised themselves as “Google AI,” “AIGoogle,” “AiGoogle,” “AIGoogle.Plus,” “AIGoogle Bard FB,” and “AIGoogleBard” on Facebook. They also utilized deceptive ads and fake Google social media posts that included fake emails and domain names like gbard-ai.info and gg-bard-ai.com.
The company is seeking a jury trial against the defendants in an effort to disrupt the scheme, raise public awareness, and prevent further harm. The scammers appear to be based in Vietnam and are behind a “prevalent” malware campaign to steal social media credentials with servers in Los Angeles, California.
Implications of Advanced Technology for Cybercrime
Rapid advances in artificial intelligence have enabled cybercriminals to create more sophisticated online scams. Law enforcement agencies have warned about an increase in extortion using AI deepfakes. Last month, cybersecurity firm SlashNext reported a 1265% increase in phishing emails since the launch of ChatGPT.
While there is debate about the true influence of generative AI on cybercriminal activity, research has shown that threat actors are using tools like ChatGPT to write sophisticated, targeted business email compromises and other phishing messages.
Hot Take: Protecting Users from Online Abuse
It’s important for tech companies like Google to take legal action against frauds, scams, and harassment to protect consumers and small businesses in emerging fields of innovation. Clear rules against these abuses are crucial, no matter how novel the setting. Google’s lawsuit is part of its ongoing legal strategy to establish needed legal precedents and protect people who use the internet from abuse.
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