Google sues to block alleged Chinese hackers’ use of Gemini AI in consumer phishing scheme

Google filed a federal lawsuit accusing a Chinese cybercrime network of using Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence models and related tools to create phishing software aimed at consumers, according to the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

In the suit, Google alleges the group developed phishing software called “Outsider” using Google’s AI capabilities and other services, and that the software was then used to generate phishing communications intended to steal information and fraudulently obtain money from consumers.

Google’s filing describes the AI-assisted development process as part of how the alleged network created and refined phishing infrastructure, according to The Hill’s account of the complaint. The company is seeking legal relief to halt the alleged activity and address harm it says resulted from the scheme.

The lawsuit adds to a growing set of disputes in which major technology companies argue that their tools, platforms, or AI systems are being misused by criminal actors, raising questions about how rapidly providers can identify abuse, preserve evidence, and pursue injunctive relief in federal court.

The complaint’s choice of venue in Manhattan puts the case before a federal court that regularly handles large-scale cybercrime and technology disputes, while also requiring the court to address issues such as proper service, jurisdiction, and whether the alleged conduct sufficiently connects the defendants to U.S. harm.