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The Volokh Conspiracy · September 17, 2026 · On the brief until October 1, 2026

Defamation via Songs and AI-Generated Video? U Tenn Coach's Claim Can Go Forward

LawMedia Studies
THE AI ANGLE
Generating fake, sexually suggestive and disparaging videos used in an alleged smear campaign

A federal district court allowed a defamation lawsuit by a University of Tennessee track coach to proceed against a former employee who allegedly disseminated disparaging songs and fake, AI-generated videos depicting the coach in compromising scenarios. The decision highlights how courts are beginning to apply traditional defamation standards to novel expressive mediums, treating AI-generated video content as uncharted legal territory that warrants further record development.

Summary written by AI Business Lens with an AI model from the article at reason.com. It is not the article, and the publisher has not reviewed it. For publishers.

THE TEACHING ANGLE
Students can examine how courts delineate actionable factual assertions from protected opinion when evaluating synthetic media and creative works, particularly how an audience of ordinary intelligence interprets AI-generated video deepfakes.

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