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Economic shifts, geopolitical change In a world defined by disruption, what if leaders could turn uncertainty into advantage? Join SAP at the break to hear how organizations can stay resilient and stay ahead. Here's your morning TNB Tech minute for Wednesday, October 22nd. I'm Zoe Culkin for the Wall Street Journal. We're exclusively reporting Conservative activist Robby Starbuck has filed a defamation lawsuit against Google alleging its AI tools falsely conn him to sexual assault claims and to a white nationalist. Starbuck first became aware of this in 2023 when Google's Bard connected him to white nationalist Richard Spencer. He took to social media then to call out Google and express the dangers of falsehoods generated by AI. The lawsuit, which also says newer tools put forth false claims that Starbuck had been accused of sexual assault, seeks more than $15 million in damages. A spokesman for Google said that the company addressed the 2023 claims in 2023. Ann went on to say that in information is a well known issue for chatbots. This is the second AI related defamation suit that Starbuck has filed this year against a large tech company, with a suit against Meta being the first. Tinder is rolling out a safety feature that requires video scans of users faces before swiping, according to Yoel Roth, who heads trust and safety at Tinder's parent company Match Group. The feature aims to boost trust among those on the app as well as cut down on bots, duplicate accounts and impersonation, and prevent ban users from returning to the platform. The feature will roll out across the US in the coming months and globally where local regulations allow it. It's already required for new users in California as well as Canada, Australia and India, where user exposure to bad actors has fallen more than 60%. And we have another exclusive report. The crypto trading firm Falcon X has agreed to acquire 21 shares, one of the largest managers of exchange traded funds that invest in digital assets. Once merged, executives say the company will develop crypto funds centered on derivatives and structured products. Full terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but it was financed through a mix of cash and equity. That's your TMB Tech Minute. Join us again this afternoon for more. Uncertainty is inevitable, but it doesn't have to hold your business back. Here's Sebastian Steinhauser of SAP again on how companies can adapt to the unpredictable and thrive Technology is the greatest tool in your tool set to help you create that capability to train that muscle in your enterprise to adapt fast to change in the environment. And that's where customers are turning to SAP now to say, hey SAP, you already run our most mission critical processes in our enterprise. Help us apply generative AI agentic AI. Apply this disruptive technology to improve our agility when it comes to making fast decisions for our business in a very uncertain economic environment. Learn more about how SAP helps businesses conquer uncertainty at SAP.com uncertainty custom Content from WSJ is a unit of the Wall Street Journal Advertising Department. The Wall Street Journal News Organization was not involved in the creation of this content.
Date: October 22, 2025
Host: Zoe Culkin, The Wall Street Journal
In this TNB Tech Minute, WSJ’s Zoe Culkin breaks key tech news ranging from a significant defamation lawsuit against Google by conservative activist Robby Starbuck, to Tinder’s rollout of new safety features, and an exclusive report on crypto firm Falcon X’s latest acquisition. The episode focuses on how AI’s errors are creating legal headaches, steps being taken to improve user trust in online platforms, and major moves in the crypto asset management world.
[00:17 - 01:25]
Lawsuit Details:
Conservative activist Robby Starbuck has filed a defamation lawsuit against Google. He alleges that Google’s AI tools (specifically Bard) falsely connected him to sexual assault claims and linked him to white nationalist Richard Spencer.
Timeline:
Starbuck discovered in 2023 that Google Bard surfaced the false link with Spencer. More recently, newer Google tools allegedly put forth claims of sexual assault accusations against him.
Damages Sought:
Starbuck is seeking more than $15 million in damages.
Google’s Response:
A company spokesperson stated that the 2023 claims were addressed that same year. They also acknowledged “hallucination” as a well-known issue with chatbots.
Context:
This is Starbuck’s second AI-related defamation suit this year against a major tech company, the first being against Meta.
Notable Quote:
“Starbuck first became aware of this in 2023 when Google’s Bard connected him to white nationalist Richard Spencer. He took to social media then to call out Google and express the dangers of falsehoods generated by AI.”
— Zoe Culkin (00:29)
[01:26 - 01:58]
Feature Overview:
Tinder will roll out a safety feature requiring users to complete video scans of their faces before being able to swipe. The aim is to boost trust, reduce bots, prevent impersonation, and stop banned users from rejoining.
Scope:
The feature will be launched across the US in coming months, then globally wherever permitted by regulations. It’s already live for new users in California, Canada, Australia, and India.
Effectiveness:
In markets where this feature is active, user exposure to bad actors has fallen by more than 60%.
Notable Quote:
“The feature aims to boost trust among those on the app as well as cut down on bots, duplicate accounts and impersonation, and prevent banned users from returning to the platform.”
— Zoe Culkin (01:34)
[01:59 - 02:33]
Deal Details:
Crypto trading firm Falcon X has agreed to acquire 21Shares, one of the largest managers of crypto-focused exchange traded funds.
Strategy Moving Forward:
Post-merger, the company plans to focus on developing crypto funds centered on derivatives and structured products.
Terms:
The deal was financed through a combination of cash and equity; full terms weren’t disclosed.
Notable Quote:
“Once merged, executives say the company will develop crypto funds centered on derivatives and structured products.”
— Zoe Culkin (02:16)
On the dangers of AI-generated misinformation:
“He took to social media then to call out Google and express the dangers of falsehoods generated by AI.”
— Zoe Culkin (00:31)
On chatbot limitations:
“A spokesman for Google said that the company addressed the 2023 claims in 2023. Ann went on to say that hallucination is a well-known issue for chatbots.”
— Zoe Culkin (01:10)
On safety results from Tinder’s new feature:
“…where user exposure to bad actors has fallen more than 60%.”
— Zoe Culkin (01:54)
Summary:
This TNB Tech Minute dives into the mounting challenge of AI-generated misinformation for individuals and companies, spotlights heightened efforts to secure dating platforms, and reports on key consolidation in the crypto investment sector. Each story illustrates how policy, technology, and user safety are intersecting in unprecedented ways.
For more updates, tune in to the afternoon edition of WSJ Tech News Briefing.