Latest news with #PaulTweed
Telegraph
11 hours ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Gerry Adams's lawyer to pursue chatbots for libel
The high-profile media lawyer who represented Gerry Adams in his libel trial against the BBC is now preparing to sue the world's most powerful AI chatbots for defamation. As one of the most prominent libel lawyers in the UK, Paul Tweed said that artificial intelligence was the 'new battleground' in trying to prevent misinformation about his clients from being spread online. Mr Tweed is turning his attention to tech after he recently helped the former Sinn Fein leader secure a €100,000 (£84,000) payout over a BBC documentary that falsely claimed he sanctioned the murder of a British spy. The Belfast-based solicitor said he was already building a test case against Meta that could trigger a flurry of similar lawsuits, as he claims to have exposed falsehoods shared by chatbots on Facebook and Instagram. It is not the first time tech giants have been sued for defamation over questionable responses spewed out by their chatbots. Robby Starbuck, the US activist known for targeting diversity schemes at major companies, has sued Meta for defamation alleging that its AI chatbot spread a number of false claims about him, including that he took part in the Capitol riots. A Norwegian man also filed a complaint against OpenAI after its ChatGPT software incorrectly stated that he had killed two of his sons and been jailed for 21 years. Mr Tweed, who has represented celebrities such as Johnny Depp, Harrison Ford and Jennifer Lopez, said: 'My pet subject is generative AI and the consequences of them repeating or regurgitating disinformation and misinformation.' He believes statements put out by AI chatbots fall outside the protections afforded to social media companies, which have traditionally seen them avoid liability for libel. If successful, Mr Tweed will expose social media companies that have previously argued they should not be responsible for claims made on their platforms because they are technology companies rather than traditional publishers. Mr Tweed said: 'I've been liaising with a number of well-known legal professors on both sides of the Atlantic and they agree that there's a very strong argument that generative AI will fall outside the legislative protections.' The lawyer said that chatbots are actually creating new content, meaning they should be considered publishers. He said that the decision by many tech giants to move their headquarters to Ireland for lower tax rates had also opened them up to being sued in Dublin's high courts, where libel cases are typically decided by a jury. This setup is often seen as more favourable to claimants, which Mr Tweed himself says has fuelled a wave of 'libel tourism' in Ireland. He also said Dublin's high courts are attractive as a lower price option compared to London, where he said the costs of filing libel claims are 'eye-watering'. He said: 'I think it's absurd now, the level of costs that are being claimed. The libel courts in London are becoming very, very expensive and highly risky now. The moment you issue your claim form, the costs go into the stratosphere. 'It's not in anyone's interest for people to be deprived of access to justice. It will get to the point where nobody sues for libel unless you're a billionaire.'
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Gerry Adams's lawyer to pursue chatbots for libel
The high-profile media lawyer who represented Gerry Adams in his libel trial against the BBC is now preparing to sue the world's most powerful AI chatbots for defamation. As one of the most prominent libel lawyers in the UK, Paul Tweed said that artificial intelligence was the 'new battleground' in trying to prevent misinformation about his clients from being spread online. Mr Tweed is turning his attention to tech after he recently helped the former Sinn Fein leader secure a €100,000 (£84,000) payout over a BBC documentary that falsely claimed he sanctioned the murder of a British spy. The Belfast-based solicitor said he was already building a test case against Meta that could trigger a flurry of similar lawsuits, as he claims to have exposed falsehoods shared by chatbots on Facebook and Instagram. It is not the first time tech giants have been sued for defamation over questionable responses spewed out by their chatbots. Robby Starbuck, the US activist known for targeting diversity schemes at major companies, has sued Meta for defamation alleging that its AI chatbot spread a number of false claims about him, including that he took part in the Capitol riots. A Norwegian man also filed a complaint against OpenAI after its ChatGPT software incorrectly stated that he had killed two of his sons and been jailed for 21 years. Mr Tweed, who has represented celebrities such as Johnny Depp, Harrison Ford and Jennifer Lopez, said: 'My pet subject is generative AI and the consequences of them repeating or regurgitating disinformation and misinformation.' He believes statements put out by AI chatbots fall outside the protections afforded to social media companies, which have traditionally seen them avoid liability for libel. If successful, Mr Tweed will expose social media companies that have previously argued they should not be responsible for claims made on their platforms because they are technology companies rather than traditional publishers. Mr Tweed said: 'I've been liaising with a number of well-known legal professors on both sides of the Atlantic and they agree that there's a very strong argument that generative AI will fall outside the legislative protections.' The lawyer said that chatbots are actually creating new content, meaning they should be considered publishers. He said that the decision by many tech giants to move their headquarters to Ireland for lower tax rates had also opened them up to being sued in Dublin's high courts, where libel cases are typically decided by a jury. This setup is often seen as more favourable to claimants, which Mr Tweed himself says has fuelled a wave of 'libel tourism' in Ireland. He also said Dublin's high courts are attractive as a lower price option compared to London, where he said the costs of filing libel claims are 'eye-watering'. He said: 'I think it's absurd now, the level of costs that are being claimed. The libel courts in London are becoming very, very expensive and highly risky now. The moment you issue your claim form, the costs go into the stratosphere. 'It's not in anyone's interest for people to be deprived of access to justice. It will get to the point where nobody sues for libel unless you're a billionaire.' Meta was contacted for for comment. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Irish Times
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Libel lawyer seeks to have defence in his defamation action against publisher struck out
Libel lawyer Paul Tweed has asked the High Court to strike out a defence of truth being pleaded in a defamation case he is taking against a US publisher. Mr Tweed claims part of an academic book entitled Subversion: The Strategic Weaponization of Narratives is defamatory because it falsely portrays him as a 'subversive, covert agent' of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The book was published by the Georgetown University Press in 2023 and written by Andreas Krieg, who teaches in King's College, London. The court heard that Mr Tweed claims, among other things, the book falsely claims he improperly writes warning letters and/or institutes legal proceedings for the purposes of silencing voices in the West who are critical of the UAE. READ MORE It also falsely claims he is portrayed as a solicitor who uses his legal practice improperly to protect or advance the UAE political regime, he says. The book also contains an argument about how certain countries use 'decentralised networks of a variety of actors, paid agents, wilful pawns and sometimes useful idiots' in order to mobilise information networks with the ultimate goal of undermining social, political consensus. Mr Tweed claims damages and seeks an injunction requiring the removal of the book from sale or the correcting of the allegedly defamatory paragraphs. The claims are denied and Georgetown Press pleads the defence of truth. On Thursday, Mr Justice Micheál O'Higgins began hearing arguments on a motion filed on behalf of Mr Tweed as to why the defence of truth should be struck out or alternatively the defendant should be required to amend its defence. The defence will deliver its reply on Friday. Mr Tweed specialises in defamation law and is representing former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, whose action against the BBC is at hearing in the High Court. He also represents businessman Declan Ganley in a case against the US news broadcaster CNN which has yet to be heard.
BreakingNews.ie
08-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Libel lawyer Paul Tweed claims book wrongly portrays him as covert agent for UAE
Libel lawyer Paul Tweed has asked the High Court to strike out a defence of truth being pleaded in a defamation case he is taking against a US publisher. Mr Tweed claims part of an academic book entitled Subversion: The Strategic Weaponization of Narratives is defamatory because it falsely portrays him as a "subversive, covert agent" of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Advertisement The book was published by the Georgetown University Press in 2023 and written by Andreas Krieg, who teaches in King's College, London. The court heard that Mr Tweed claims, among other things, the book falsely claims he improperly writes warning letters and/or institutes legal proceedings for the purposes of silencing voices in the West who are critical of the UAE. It also falsely claims he is portrayed as a solicitor who uses his legal practice improperly to protect or advance the UAE political regime, he says. The book also contains an argument about how certain countries use 'decentralised networks of a variety of actors, paid agents, wilful pawns and sometimes useful idiots' in order to mobilise information networks with the ultimate goal of undermining social, political consensus. Advertisement Ireland Gerry Adams labels Spotlight allegations 'grevious... Read More Mr Tweed claims damages and seeks an injunction requiring the removal of the book from sale or the correcting of the allegedly defamatory paragraphs. The claims are denied and Georgetown Press pleads the defence of truth. On Thursday, Mr Justice Micheál O'Higgins began hearing arguments on a motion filed on behalf of Mr Tweed as to why the defence truth should be struck out or alternatively the defendant should be required to amend its defence. The defence will deliver its reply on Friday. Mr Tweed specialises in defamation law and is representing former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams whose action against the BBC is currently at hearing in the High Court. He also represents businessman Declan Ganley in a case against the US news broadcaster CNN which has yet to be heard.
