Cape Breton’s renowned fiddler, Ashley MacIsaac, has raised concerns about potential defamation by Google following an AI-generated summary that incorrectly labeled him as a sex offender. The acclaimed musician, a recipient of the Juno Award, was taken aback when a First Nation near Halifax presented him with this misleading information, leading to the cancellation of a scheduled concert on December 19.
Expressing his worries during a phone interview with The Canadian Press, MacIsaac emphasized the potential risks such misinformation could pose, especially in situations like crossing international borders. He highlighted the inaccuracies in the summary, which falsely claimed he had been convicted of various offenses, including sexual assault and internet luring, as well as being listed on the national sex offender registry – all of which are untrue.
The 50-year-old artist later discovered that the erroneous claims stemmed from articles about another individual with a similar last name in Atlantic Canada. Google Canada’s spokesperson, Wendy Manton, stated that their AI summaries are regularly updated to display what they deem as the most helpful information, adding that they use any issues that arise to enhance their systems and may take corrective actions as per their policies.
Following this incident, the Sipekne’katik First Nation issued a public apology to MacIsaac for the misunderstanding, acknowledging the negative impact it had on his reputation and livelihood. MacIsaac expressed his intent to reschedule the cancelled concert but preferred to wait for the situation to stabilize before confirming a new date.
Although MacIsaac lacks the financial means to pursue a lengthy legal battle, he revealed receiving offers from law firms across the country willing to represent him pro bono. He emphasized the importance of addressing such misinformation to prevent similar experiences for others in the future.
Despite his past controversies, including incidents during performances in the 1990s and a lighthearted encounter with the law for possessing marijuana, MacIsaac remains focused on clearing his name and safeguarding his reputation.
