AI and Bots Fuel Unprecedented Music Streaming Fraud: Royalties Worth Millions Stolen

In a landmark criminal case, a US musician has been accused of using artificial intelligence (AI) and thousands of automated bots to deceitfully generate billions of song streams, leading to the fraudulent claim of millions in royalties.

Michael Smith, a resident of North Carolina, is facing charges that include wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to launder money.

Prosecutors say that Smith's elaborate scheme spanned several years during which he used AI to produce a profusion of songs. These tracks were then streamed billions of times across various platforms by automated bot accounts, making detection incredibly difficult. Authorities estimate that Smith amassed over $10 million in royalty payments through this illicit operation.

The charges against Smith are the first of their kind. US attorney Damian Williams stated that the royalties rightfully belonged to the musicians, songwriters, and rights holders whose songs were legitimately streamed.

The case brings to light the potential misuse of advanced technology, prompting platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube to take further measures against artificial inflation of streams.

- CyberBeat