Prominent pastor and entrepreneur T.D. Jakes is taking legal action against a wave of malicious AI-generated content spreading lies about him on YouTube.
His attorney, Dustin Pusch, has filed a motion to subpoena Google, YouTube’s parent company, to disclose the identities of individuals behind four accounts accused of producing false and defamatory content.
The accounts, reportedly operating out of Pakistan, South Africa, the Philippines, and Kenya, used AI technology to create fake thumbnails and voiceovers.
Among the wild allegations pushed by these channels is a salacious claim involving Jakes and music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.
These AI-generated rumors surfaced amidst the ongoing fallout from abuse allegations against Diddy, who last year settled a lawsuit with Cassie Ventura but continues to face other accusations.
Jakes has found himself dragged into the controversy by hundreds of fabricated videos making sensational claims, including false accusations of arrests and other baseless scandals. The content, designed to maximize views and ad revenue, highlights the growing misuse of AI in spreading viral disinformation.
Attorney Dustin Pusch criticized YouTube for failing to enforce its own content guidelines. Despite flagged reports, the videos have remained accessible, prompting the legal team to pursue a subpoena to unmask the perpetrators.
“This action is about more than just defending Mr. Jakes’ reputation,” Pusch said in a statement. “It’s about holding platforms and creators accountable for weaponizing AI to harm individuals for profit.”
