Ashley MacIsaac, a Juno Award-winning fiddler from Cape Breton, accused Google of defamation after an AI-generated summary wrongly labeled him as a sex offender. MacIsaac learned of the misinformation last week when a First Nation near Halifax confronted him and canceled his concert scheduled for December 19.
In a phone interview, MacIsaac shared his concerns. He feared that the misinformation could cause issues when crossing international borders. “You are being put into a less secure situation because of a media company — that’s what defamation is,” he said.
The AI summary falsely stated that MacIsaac had been convicted of sexual assault, internet luring, and attempted assault of a minor. It also claimed that he was listed on the national sex offender registry, which was untrue. “I could have been at a border and put in jail,” MacIsaac said, highlighting the harm the false claims could cause.
MacIsaac later discovered that the incorrect claims came from articles about another man with the same last name. He called on AI companies to take responsibility for such errors. “Something has to be figured out about what AI companies are responsible for,” he said.
Google Canada responded, explaining that AI-generated overviews change frequently to display the most helpful information. “When issues arise — like if our features misinterpret web content or miss some context — we use those examples to improve our systems,” said Google spokesperson Wendy Manton.
The Sipekne’katik First Nation issued an apology to MacIsaac. They acknowledged their mistake and expressed regret for the harm caused to his reputation. “We deeply regret the harm this caused to your reputation and livelihood,” their statement said. “Chief and council value your artistry, contribution to the cultural life of the Maritimes, and your commitment to reconciliation.”
MacIsaac hopes to reschedule the canceled concert but plans to wait until the situation calms. “I don’t feel comfortable going there right now because I don’t think the proper information can be shared quickly enough,” he explained.
MacIsaac considered filing a lawsuit but admitted that he doesn’t have the resources for a lengthy legal battle. He also suspects that the misinformation caused the cancellation of another concert in Mexico earlier this year.
MacIsaac has a history of controversy. He gained fame in the 1990s for blending Celtic music with rock. In 1999, he caused a stir with a profanity-laced rant during a concert in Halifax, resulting in several canceled gigs. In 1997, he attracted attention after flashing his private parts during a U.S. late-night talk show appearance.
