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AI Hallucinations Face Legal Consequences: Baidu Ordered to Apologize for False AI-Generated Content

Recently, a case involving defamation through AI-generated content (AIGC) has drawn significant public attention. Li Xiaoliang, a practicing lawyer in Nanjing, Jiangsu, discovered that when searching his name on the Baidu platform, its "AI Smart Answer" feature produced a shocking result. The system falsely stated that "Lawyer Li Xiaoliang was sentenced to three years in prison," and even displayed his professional portrait in legal robes alongside this incorrect information.
This fabricated "AI hallucination" is not only highly inaccurate but also severely damages the professional reputation and public image of the lawyer involved.
Court Ruling: Technological Advancement Is Not a Shield Against Liability
In response to the infringement claims, Baidu argued that AI "hallucinations" or errors are currently unforeseeable and unavoidable technological phenomena. The court, however, rejected this defense.
In 2024, the Jiangbei New District People's Court of Nanjing ruled in the first instance that Beijing Baidu Net Information Technology Co., Ltd.'s actions constituted defamation. The court ordered the company to issue a formal written apology to the plaintiff, Li Xiaoliang. After Baidu appealed, the Nanjing Intermediate People's Court upheld the original verdict in March 2026, dismissing the appeal.
Latest Development: Defendant Non-Compliance Leads to Court Enforcement
Despite the final ruling, the company failed to fulfill its legal obligation to provide the written apology. Consequently, Li Xiaoliang recently filed an application for enforcement with the Jiangbei New District People's Court.
Reports indicate that on May 8, the involved parties were notified by the court that the enforcement case had been officially accepted. This marks the first time a legal enforcement proceeding has been initiated for an information infringement case stemming from AI algorithmic errors. This case serves as a critical reminder to the industry: internet platforms leveraging AI technology must bear corresponding responsibility for content review and risk control. The "unpredictability" of algorithms cannot excuse unlawful conduct.
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Recently, a case involving defamation through AI-generated content (AIGC) has drawn significant public attention. Li Xiaoliang, a practicing lawyer in Nanjing, Jiangsu, discovered that when searching his name on the Baidu platform, its "AI Smart Answer" feature produced a shocking result. The system falsely stated that "Lawyer Li Xiaoliang was sentenced to three years in prison," and even displayed his professional portrait in legal robes alongside this incorrect information.
This fabricated "AI hallucination" is not only highly inaccurate but also severely damages the professional reputation and public image of the lawyer involved.
Court Ruling: Technological Advancement Is Not a Shield Against Liability
In response to the infringement claims, Baidu argued that AI "hallucinations" or errors are currently unforeseeable and unavoidable technological phenomena. The court, however, rejected this defense.
In 2024, the Jiangbei New District People's Court of Nanjing ruled in the first instance that Beijing Baidu Net Information Technology Co., Ltd.'s actions constituted defamation. The court ordered the company to issue a formal written apology to the plaintiff, Li Xiaoliang. After Baidu appealed, the Nanjing Intermediate People's Court upheld the original verdict in March 2026, dismissing the appeal.
Latest Development: Defendant Non-Compliance Leads to Court Enforcement
Despite the final ruling, the company failed to fulfill its legal obligation to provide the written apology. Consequently, Li Xiaoliang recently filed an application for enforcement with the Jiangbei New District People's Court.
Reports indicate that on May 8, the involved parties were notified by the court that the enforcement case had been officially accepted. This marks the first time a legal enforcement proceeding has been initiated for an information infringement case stemming from AI algorithmic errors. This case serves as a critical reminder to the industry: internet platforms leveraging AI technology must bear corresponding responsibility for content review and risk control. The "unpredictability" of algorithms cannot excuse unlawful conduct.
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