Meta’s New AI “Bias” Advisor Has A Long Anti-LGBTQ+ History
Robby Starbuck’s track record includes conspiracy theories and repeated efforts to undermine queer and trans communities.
Featured image: Jason Davis/Getty Images
Meta, the company behind Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has tapped right-wing activist Robby Starbuck to help shape its approach to “political bias” in artificial intelligence. The appointment was part of a legal settlement after Starbuck sued the tech giant for defamation, claiming its AI chatbot falsely linked him to the January 6 Capitol riot.
Starbuck is not an AI researcher. His notoriety comes from leading online campaigns against diversity, equity and inclusion programs, a crusade that has successfully pressured corporations like John Deere, Harley-Davidson and Tractor Supply to dismantle DEI policies. His stated mission is to “bring sanity back to corporate America,” often by rallying his followers into boycotts targeting LGBTQ+ inclusion and racial equity efforts.
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“Since engaging on these important issues with Robby, Meta has made tremendous strides to improve the accuracy of Meta AI and mitigate ideological and political bias,” read a joint statement from Meta and Starbuck. The company has not disclosed whether his role is paid.
Starbuck has used his platform to spread debunked claims that the pesticide atrazine “turns frogs gay” and causes children to identify as LGBTQ+. He has labeled pride flags “grooming and indoctrination,” falsely suggested that trans people transition to assault women in bathrooms, and floated baseless theories about the COVID-19 vaccine killing Friends actor Matthew Perry.
The timing of his appointment is no accident. Earlier this year, Meta rolled back parts of its hateful conduct policy, ending fact-checking partnerships and allowing posts that call LGBTQ+ people “mentally ill” if framed as political or religious opinion. Mark Zuckerberg described the changes as part of “restoring free expression,” though critics say the move opens the door to targeted harassment.
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Starbuck’s new advisory role also aligns neatly with the Trump administration’s recent executive order, “Preventing Woke AI in the Federal Government.” The order directs that AI models funded with federal dollars avoid what it calls “ideological dogmas such as DEI,” and it frames DEI as an “existential threat to reliable AI.”
The move shows how conservative figures are gaining more say over how tech companies handle bias in AI. By choosing an outspoken critic of LGBTQ+ rights, Meta is further aligning itself with broader political pushes to redefine diversity and inclusion as bias.
