On November 1, 2018, at London’s Granary Square, Google’s brand was prominently showcased at its facilities. Google is expanding the reach of its AI-powered robot, Bard, throughout Europe and Brazil, aiming to cater to hundreds of millions more users across multiple languages. This move is a strategic response to Microsoft, which integrates OpenAI’s ChatGPT services into its Bing search engine. To stay competitive, Google enhanced Bard with new features on Thursday, July 13, 2023.
Google has initiated legal action, alleging that scammers are utilizing deceptive marketing tactics to pilfer social media passwords from small businesses, preying on unsuspecting users intrigued by artificial intelligence advancements.
Halimah DeLaine Prado, Google’s General Counsel, stated, “Scammers are exploiting the growing interest in innovative AI technologies to target unsuspecting individuals.”
The lawsuit reveals that hackers from Vietnam and India are tricking small business proprietors into clicking on ads prompting them to download Bard, a recent AI chatbot release.
Individuals unwittingly downloaded malware through these ads, compromising their social media accounts. Google has taken down approximately 300 fraudulent activities associated with this scheme since April. The fraud scheme primarily operates through Facebook ads, webpages, and posts, enticing users to download Bard, which ultimately leads to account hijacking.
Google aims to dismantle these fraudulent activities by filing a lawsuit in the Northern District of California, citing trademark infringement and breach of contract. The company seeks to protect its users, raise awareness about such scams, and prevent further harm through legal intervention.
Furthermore, Google has filed a separate petition leveraging copyright laws to safeguard internet users and creators. These legal measures are part of Google’s ongoing strategy to safeguard consumers and small businesses while setting legal precedents in the rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Google emphasizes the importance of these initiatives in preserving the technological innovation culture in the United States. By collaborating with authorities and taking decisive legal actions, Google aims to bring scammers to justice, ensuring a safer online environment for all users and combating AI cybercrime and copyright infringement.
