Meta appointed Robby Starbuck, an activist known for campaigning against corporate diversity programs, as an adviser on artificial intelligence bias in August. The appointment, part of a lawsuit settlement, has drawn criticism from civil rights organizations due to Starbuck's continued online activity, which includes posts about vaccines, transgender people, and recent violent events.
Since taking the advisory role, Starbuck has maintained his online presence, making claims that critics have labeled as disinformation. In response, human rights groups have questioned Meta's decision, while Starbuck defends his statements and his advisory position as an effort to ensure fairness in AI.
Key Takeaways
- Robby Starbuck was appointed as a Meta AI adviser in August as part of a lawsuit settlement.
- The lawsuit was initiated after Meta's AI chatbot allegedly made false claims about Starbuck.
- Since his appointment, Starbuck has continued to make controversial online posts, drawing criticism from groups like the Human Rights Campaign.
- Critics accuse Starbuck of spreading disinformation, while he maintains his goal is to promote fairness and that his posts do not represent Meta.
- Meta has not publicly commented on Starbuck's online rhetoric since the appointment.
The Lawsuit and Subsequent Appointment
Robby Starbuck, a 36-year-old former music video director from Nashville, secured his advisory role at Meta following a legal dispute. The conflict began in the summer of 2024 during Starbuck's campaign against motorcycle company Harley-Davidson over its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Starbuck alleged that Meta's AI chatbot generated false and defamatory statements about him, including claims that he was a follower of the QAnon conspiracy theory and had participated in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. He denied these allegations and threatened legal action.
A lawsuit was filed in April by the Dhillon Law Group on Starbuck's behalf. The case was resolved with a settlement that included his appointment as an adviser to Meta on AI bias. Further details of the settlement, such as potential financial compensation, were not disclosed.
Meta's Official Statement
On August 8, Meta's Chief of Global Affairs, Joel Kaplan, issued a joint statement with Starbuck on the social media platform X. The statement noted that Meta had made "tremendous strides to improve the accuracy of Meta AI and mitigate ideological and political bias." It also confirmed that Meta and Starbuck would "work collaboratively in the coming months to continue to find ways to address issues of ideological and political bias."
Criticism from Advocacy Organizations
The decision to appoint Starbuck has been met with significant opposition from civil rights and advocacy groups, who point to his history of controversial statements.
Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, described the appointment as "appalling." She stated, "He peddles lies and pushes extremism, and it is hard to believe any of this will help make their platforms safer or better."
"People should be able to find safe, welcoming communities online. Robby Starbuck pushes a dangerous anti-LGBTQ agenda, spreading disinformation and denying the very existence of transgender people."
Bloem further argued that the appointment, combined with Meta's earlier policy changes regarding hate speech, raised questions about the company's commitment to protecting LGBTQ+ users on its platforms.
Starbuck's Online Activity Since Appointment
Since his advisory role began, Robby Starbuck's online posts have continued in a similar vein, often focusing on politically charged topics. His content has included claims that critics say are unsubstantiated or misleading.
Statements on Violent Incidents
Starbuck has frequently attempted to link recent high-profile shootings and violent attacks to leftist political ideology. In one video posted on X, he claimed there had been "5 domestic terrorism attacks by leftists" in under two weeks. He cited several incidents, including attacks in Sacramento, New Hampshire, and Dallas.
However, public records and official statements from law enforcement often contradict these direct links. For example:
- The man accused in the New Hampshire attack reportedly yelled "Free Palestine," but the state's attorney general said there was no evidence of a hate-based motive.
- The suspect in the Dallas attack was registered as an independent voter and was described by friends as disliking both major political parties.
- Investigators told NBC News there was no evidence connecting the suspect in another case to any left-wing groups, though family members noted a political shift.
Despite these reports, Starbuck has maintained that the individuals involved were leftists.
International Political Views
Starbuck has also expressed support for Nayib Bukele, the president of El Salvador, who has been celebrated by some for his aggressive crackdown on crime but criticized by human rights groups for unconstitutional methods that have led to the imprisonment of over 1.5% of the country's population.
Posts on Social and Health Issues
Starbuck has also used his platform to share information about vaccines and transgender issues that has been disputed by scientific and medical experts. He amplified a debunked claim from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. linking the hepatitis B vaccine to a significant increase in autism risk.
In another instance, he supported a claim by Donald Trump that the government spent $8 million on a study to make mice transgender. In reality, the studies in question were designed to examine the effects of hormone therapy on various health conditions, such as HIV and wound healing.
Starbuck Defends His Role and Statements
When contacted for comment, Robby Starbuck defended his actions and criticized the media coverage. He described inquiries into his rhetoric as an "attempted hit job meant to punish Meta for working with me on AI fairness."
"Nothing I’ve said has been on behalf of Meta – they work with people from every political background. My role is simple: work to make AI fair for everyone, regardless of their views. That’s a goal anyone who believes in fairness should support."
He characterized the scrutiny as "cancel culture and activism dressed up as journalism." Regarding his claims about recent violent events, he accused media outlets of downplaying left-wing violence and stated that his security team and the FBI were handling ongoing death threats against him.
Legal and Political Connections
The law firm that represented Starbuck in his lawsuit against Meta, Dhillon Law Group, has connections to the Trump administration. The firm's founder, Harmeet Dhillon, was confirmed as Donald Trump’s assistant attorney general for civil rights in April, shortly before the settlement was reached.
According to ethics filings, Dhillon divested her ownership in the law firm. A spokesperson for the Justice Department stated that Dhillon does not currently have any role in cases involving Starbuck and did not have a role at the time of the settlement.
Critics like Heidi Beirich see these connections as part of a larger pattern. "This is just another example of Meta caving to Trump and his allies, and bogus charges of political bias," she said, arguing that it "makes a mockery of fair content moderation." Meta has not issued any further comments on the matter since the initial joint statement in August.