Cape Breton fiddler Ashley MacIsaac says he may have been defamed by Google after it recently produced an AI-generated summary falsely identifying him as a sex offender.
The Juno Award-winning musician said he learned of the online misinformation last week after a First Nation north of Halifax confronted him with the summary and cancelled a concert planned for Dec. 19.
“You are being put into a less secure situation because of a media company – that’s what defamation is,” MacIsaac said in a telephone interview, adding he was worried about what might have happened had the erroneous content surfaced while he was trying to cross an international border.
“If a lawyer wants to take this on (for free) … I would stand up because I’m not the first and I’m sure I won’t be the last.”
MacIsaac said the summary falsely asserted he had been convicted of a series of offences including sexual assault, internet luring, assaulting a woman and attempting to assault a minor. As well, he said the Google entry accused him of being listed on the national sex offender registry, which is also untrue.
“I could have been at a border and put in jail,” he said. “So something has to be figured out as far as what the AI companies are responsible for … and what they can prevent.”
Ashley MacIsaac Addresses Online Misinformation,Considers Legal Action
Cape Breton fiddler Ashley MacIsaac is responding to what he calls a “smear campaign” of misinformation circulating online,alleging it has damaged his reputation and possibly cost him professional opportunities. MacIsaac claims the false narratives, which he says depict him as a danger to the community, have been particularly harmful.
“It’s been really rough,” MacIsaac told CBC News. “peopel are believing things that are just not true, and it’s affecting my ability to work.” He specifically expressed concern that the misinformation may have contributed to the cancellation of a concert previously scheduled in Mexico earlier this year. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/ashley-macisaac-misinformation-1.7082499
MacIsaac stated he has consulted with a lawyer regarding potential legal action, but acknowledged financial constraints could hinder a prolonged legal battle. “I don’t have the money to pay for a lawsuit that could take years to settle,” he said.
The musician, who rose to prominence in the 1990s with his energetic blend of Celtic and rock music, is not unfamiliar with public controversy. In 1999,a profanity-laced on-stage rant in Halifax led to widespread cancellations of his performances. Earlier in 1997, he garnered attention for discussing personal matters with a reporter and an incident during a U.S. late-night talk show appearance. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/ashley-macisaac-misinformation-1.7082499
However, MacIsaac’s legal troubles have been limited. In 2001, he received an absolute discharge and was not fined after being found in possession of marijuana in Saskatchewan. The presiding judge, Linton Smith, reportedly joked he would onyl ask MacIsaac to obtain an autograph for his wife.
MacIsaac has been a vocal advocate for cannabis legalization. In October 2018, he was the first customer at a Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation branch in Cape Breton when recreational cannabis became legal in Canada. He celebrated the moment, stating, “I don’t need to be a criminal anymore, and that’s a great feeling. And my new dealer is the prime minister!” https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/ashley-macisaac-first-cannabis-purchase-1.4867165