Canadian music icon Ashley MacIsaac is considering legal action after an artificial intelligence summary generated by Google incorrectly identified him as a convicted sex offender, an error that led to the abrupt cancellation of one of his performances.
AI Error Sparks Concert Cancellation and Apology
The 50-year-old Juno Award-winning fiddler from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, learned of the damaging misinformation last week. The Sipekne'katik First Nation, located north of Halifax, confronted him with the AI-generated summary and subsequently cancelled a concert he was scheduled to perform last Friday, December 19, 2025.
The Google AI overview falsely asserted that MacIsaac had been convicted of serious offences including sexual assault, internet luring, assaulting a woman, and attempting to assault a minor. It also incorrectly stated he was listed on the national sex offender registry.
In response, the First Nation issued a public apology online. "We deeply regret the harm this caused to your reputation and livelihood," the message stated. "Chief and council value your artistry, contribution to the cultural life of the Maritimes and your commitment to reconciliation."
Musician Fears Real-World Consequences
MacIsaac expressed serious concern about the potential ramifications of the false information, particularly regarding international travel. "I could have been at a border and put in jail," he told The Canadian Press in a telephone interview. He worries the error could have transpired while he was trying to cross an international border, putting him in a "less secure situation."
"You are being put into a less secure situation because of a media company — that’s what defamation is," MacIsaac said. He has spoken with a lawyer about the incident but noted he lacks the financial resources to pursue a potentially lengthy lawsuit on his own. He invited any lawyer willing to take the case pro bono to come forward, stating, "I would stand up because I’m not the first and I’m sure I won’t be the last."
The musician also suspects the same AI misinformation may have played a role in the cancellation of a concert scheduled earlier this year in Mexico.
Google Responds, Blames Name Confusion
MacIsaac later discovered the false claims were likely pulled from news articles about a different man in Atlantic Canada who shares his name. Google Canada spokesperson Wendy Manton addressed the issue, stating the company's "AI overviews" frequently change to display what she described as the most "helpful" information.
"When issues arise — like if our features misinterpret web content or miss some context — we use those examples to improve our systems and may take action under our policies," Manton said in a statement.
MacIsaac aims to reschedule the cancelled show with the Sipekne'katik First Nation once the situation calms. "I don’t feel comfortable about going there right now because I don’t think the proper information can be disseminated within a week. It’s seen so many shares," he explained, adding he did not want to bring negative attention to the community.
The incident highlights growing concerns about the reliability of AI-generated summaries and their potential for causing real-world harm through the rapid spread of misinformation.
