Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Canadian Fiddler Ashley MacIsaac Sues Google for $1.5 Million Over False AI Overview Claims
Ashley MacIsaac has sued Google for $1.5 million in Ontario, alleging its AI Overview falsely described him as a convicted sex offender and harmed his career after a concert cancellation.
Canadian fiddler Ashley MacIsaac has filed a $1.5 million lawsuit against Google, alleging the company’s AI Overview tool falsely identified him as a convicted sex offender.
The claim was filed in Ontario Superior Court of Justice. According to court filings, the AI-generated summary stated MacIsaac had been convicted of sexual assault, online child luring with intent to commit sexual assault, and assault causing bodily harm. It also allegedly said he was listed on Canada’s national sex offender registry.
MacIsaac, an award-winning musician, says the misinformation had direct professional consequences. In the filing, he says he learned of the issue after Sipekne’katik First Nation canceled a scheduled December 19, 2025 performance following public complaints tied to the false AI result.
He is seeking $500,000 in general damages, $500,000 in aggravated damages, and $500,000 in punitive damages.
Sipekne’katik First Nation later apologized to MacIsaac for canceling the concert, stating the decision was “based on incorrect information generated through an AI-assisted search, which mistakenly associated you with offences unrelated to you.” The statement added: “We deeply regret the harm this caused to your reputation and livelihood.”
The lawsuit argues Google is responsible for harm caused by the design and operation of AI Overview. “As the creator and operator of the AI overview, Google is also liable for injuries and losses arising from the AI overview’s defective design,” the filing states. It further alleges Google “knew, or ought to have known,” that the product could return false information.
MacIsaac also alleges Google has not contacted him directly or issued an apology.
The filing says Google’s “cavalier and indifferent response” to publishing “utterly false statements” about serious sexual offences, including offences involving children, supports claims for aggravated and punitive damages. It adds that liability should not be reduced because the statements were generated by software rather than a human spokesperson.
Speaking to The Canadian Press, MacIsaac said the error left him worried about his safety while performing live, adding that he feared “for my own safety going on stage because of what I was labelled as.” Through legal counsel, he told The Guardian he wanted “to clear my name and bring attention to the issue,” and called the matter one that “needs to be resolved in the courts.”
Google has not publicly commented on the lawsuit. In a December statement, the company said AI Overviews “frequently improve to show the most helpful information” and that it invests heavily in response quality. Google added that when issues arise, including misinterpretation of web content or missing context, it uses those cases to improve systems and may take policy action.
Google’s AI Overview result for MacIsaac has since been updated to reflect his legal action against the company.
