West Virginia Couple Targeted in AI-Generated Real Estate Scam
Raegan Bartlo received an email on August 23, 2024, that appeared to be from her title company lawyer, instructing her to wire a $255,000 down payment for her new home. The email was part of a scam using generative AI to impersonate real estate professionals. Cybersecurity officials say such scams are occurring across the country, targeting homebuyers. The Bartlos were targets, but it is unclear if they lost any money.
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RealPage's YieldStar algorithm pushes rents higher for tenants
RealPage's YieldStar algorithm uses private competitor data to recommend rent increases for apartment units. Landlords adopt up to 90% of the suggestions, leading to higher rents for tenants. Critics allege the software may facilitate indirect price-fixing in violation of antitrust law. The company denies wrongdoing and says the software helps eliminate collusion.
- Company involved
- RealPage
- AI system involved
- YieldStar
10 source articles · read the reporting →
West Jordan Data Center Noise Frustrates Nearby Residents - Hoodline
The data center's generators produced intrusive noise that disturbed residents' sleep and daily life.
- Company involved
- Aligned Data Centers
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UDR Sued Over Alleged Use of RealPage Algorithm to Set Rents in San Diego
A class action lawsuit alleges that UDR, Inc. used RealPage's YieldStar algorithmic pricing software to set rental rates and occupancy levels for its San Diego properties, in violation of a local ordinance. The suit claims the software relied on nonpublic competitor data, contributing to inflated rents and making housing less affordable. The lawsuit, filed in July 2026, seeks to represent all affected tenants. UDR has previously acknowledged using YieldStar as one tool among others in its decision-making.
- Company involved
- UDR, Inc.
- AI system involved
- RealPage YieldStar
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EEOC sues iTutorGroup for automated rejection of older tutor applicants
The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleges that tutoring provider iTutorGroup programmed its recruitment software automatically to reject female applicants aged 55 or older and male applicants aged 60 or older. More than 200 qualified US-based applicants were denied work in 2020. The EEOC has filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of New York seeking back pay and damages.
- Company involved
- iTutorGroup
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Google AI Overviews provide inaccurate finance information in 43% of searches
A study by The College Investor found that Google's AI Overviews provided misleading or inaccurate information in 43% of 100 personal finance-related searches. The AI-generated answers included outdated tax rules and incorrect student loan repayment plan details. One user believed she could convert her 529 plan to a Roth IRA in California, which is not allowed. Google has not responded to requests for comment.
- Company involved
- Google
- AI system involved
- AI Overviews
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Facebook still allows discriminatory ads despite settlement
A Wisconsin health care agency, Tenderness Health Care, posted a job ad on Facebook targeting users under 55 with 'African American multicultural affinity.' Federal law prohibits such age and race discrimination in job ads. The Markup found the ad still appeared despite Facebook's 2019 settlement agreeing to change its practices. Facebook removed the ad after being contacted, but critics say the company's algorithm continues to deliver ads in a discriminatory manner.
- Company involved
- Facebook
- AI system involved
- Facebook Ads
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Guangxi homeowners lose homes in facial recognition fraud
Over 10 homeowners in Guangxi, China, were defrauded by a real estate agent who used the government's '邕e登' app to transfer their property without consent. The agent tricked them into using facial recognition for what they thought was file checking, but instead the system processed property transfers. The agent has been arrested and the case is under investigation. The local government has restricted the properties and plans to upgrade the app's security.
- Company involved
- 南宁市自然资源局
- AI system involved
- 邕e登
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FTC settles with Sitejabber over reviews from customers who had not received goods
The US Federal Trade Commission has charged Sitejabber, an AI-enabled review platform, with deceiving consumers by publishing ratings and reviews submitted at the point of purchase, before buyers had received or experienced the products. The FTC alleges this artificially inflated average ratings and review counts for its clients. Sitejabber has agreed to a proposed consent order prohibiting it from making such misrepresentations in the future.
- Company involved
- Sitejabber
- AI system involved
- Sitejabber
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Facebook Allowed Age-Targeted Credit Card Ads Violating Its Policy
The Markup found that four companies—Aspiration, Hometap, Chime, and Varo Bank—ran Facebook ads for credit cards and home equity loans that were targeted by age, excluding users under 25 or 35. This practice violates Facebook's own anti-discrimination policy and may violate the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and California's Unruh Civil Rights Act. Facebook did not respond to requests for comment, and some advertisers said they would review their ad targeting.
- Company involved
- Facebook
- AI system involved
- Facebook Ad Platform
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Facebook allowed advertisers to target users interested in pseudoscience
The Markup found that Facebook's ad-targeting system was allowing advertisers to reach users classified as interested in 'pseudoscience', a category with more than 78 million people. The Markup paid to run an ad targeting that category and Facebook approved it, despite promising to take down COVID-19 misinformation. After being contacted by The Markup, Facebook removed the interest category.
- Company involved
- Facebook
- AI system involved
- Facebook Ads Manager
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Airbnb smart-pricing algorithm increased racial revenue gap, study finds
A study by Carnegie Mellon University found that Airbnb's smart-pricing algorithm increased the revenue gap between White and Black hosts, even though it narrowed the gap among hosts who adopted it. The algorithm, which sets daily prices automatically, was adopted by fewer Black hosts, so its suggested prices were closer to the optimum for White hosts. The researchers said the tool could reduce racial disparities only if more Black hosts adopted it.
- Company involved
- Airbnb
- AI system involved
- Airbnb smart-pricing algorithm
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Amazon sellers lose thousands after RepricerExpress pricing glitch
A software glitch in RepricerExpress's automated repricing system caused products sold by Amazon sellers to be priced at 1p, leading to significant financial losses for the sellers. RepricerExpress apologised but did not offer compensation, while Amazon said it had reached out to affected sellers but many reported no response. Some sellers have instructed lawyers to take legal action against RepricerExpress and Amazon.
- Company involved
- RepricerExpress
- AI system involved
- RepricerExpress
10 source articles · read the reporting →
LoanDepot algorithm denied mortgage to Black couple in Charlotte
In August 2019, Crystal Marie and Eskias McDaniels, a Black couple, were denied a mortgage for a house in Charlotte, North Carolina, by loanDepot's automated underwriting algorithm. The algorithm rejected the application because Crystal Marie was a contractor, not a full-time employee, despite her high credit score and income. After the couple enlisted their real estate agent and employer to intervene, the lender reversed the decision and cleared them to close. The couple alleged that race played a role in the denial, which loanDepot denied.
- Company involved
- loanDepot
- AI system involved
- Classic FICO and Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac automated underwriting software
10 source articles · read the reporting →
DeepSeek exposed user data via open ClickHouse database
Cloud security firm Wiz discovered a ClickHouse database belonging to DeepSeek that was open to the internet without authentication, containing over a million lines of logs with chat histories, secret keys and backend details. Wiz disclosed the breach to DeepSeek, which promptly locked down the database. The incident highlights security risks in rapidly deploying AI services.
- Company involved
- DeepSeek
- AI system involved
- DeepSeek-R1
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Exclusive: Zoox grounds Atlanta test fleet after workers report toxic gas exposure symptoms - TechCrunch
Exclusive: Zoox grounds Atlanta test fleet after workers report toxic gas exposure symptoms TechCrunch
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Amazon faces class action over allegedly rigged buying algorithms
Two consumers filed a proposed class action against Amazon in Washington federal court, alleging that the company rigged its algorithms to boost sales of its own retail business and third-party sellers using its fulfillment service. The plaintiffs claim that hundreds of millions of customers have overpaid for items as a result. The lawsuit is pending.
- Company involved
- Amazon.com Inc.
- AI system involved
- Amazon's buying features
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Eventbrite algorithm recommended illegal opioid sales to addiction recovery seekers
Eventbrite's recommendation algorithm promoted thousands of listings selling illegal prescription drugs like oxycodone and Xanax alongside addiction recovery events. The listings, which appeared in search results and related events, directed users to unlicensed online pharmacies. Eventbrite acknowledged the issue and removed the listings after WIRED alerted them.
- Company involved
- Eventbrite
- AI system involved
- Eventbrite recommendation algorithm
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Match Group kept Stephen Matthews on Hinge despite rape reports
A woman reported to Hinge that Stephen Matthews, a cardiologist she met on the app, drugged and sexually assaulted her in January 2023. Match Group, Hinge's parent company, had already received reports that Matthews had raped other women, but he remained on the platform until his arrest. He was later convicted of 35 counts and sentenced to 158 years to life. Lawyers for the women allege Match Group's failure to act allowed further abuse.
- Company involved
- Match Group
- AI system involved
- Hinge
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Waltham Cross residents say Google data centre construction has ruined their area
Residents living near Google's £790m data centre under construction in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, say it has generated constant noise, blocked their views and reduced house values, and some believe the work has made them ill. Google said its $1 billion investment would bring compute capacity to the UK and that it was committed to being active members of the community. The construction is expected to be complete next year.
- Company involved
- Google
6 source articles · read the reporting →
TransUnion AI tenant screening denied 75-year-old man apartment due to mistaken littering conviction
Chris Robinson, then 75, applied for a senior living apartment in California. The property manager used an AI screening program from TransUnion, which assigned him a low score based on a mistaken conviction for littering that belonged to a different person with the same name in Texas. Robinson lost the apartment and his application fee. A federal class-action lawsuit against TransUnion moved toward a $11.5 million settlement in 2023.
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MAA, JBG to pay DC $9.3M total to settle RealPage case - Multifamily Dive
The system set rent prices for tenants, causing them to pay higher rents.
- Company involved
- MAA (Mid-America Apartments) and JBG Smith
- AI system involved
- RealPage Revenue Management Software
1 source article · read the reporting →
SEC charges YouPlus and CEO with defrauding investors
The SEC charged machine-learning startup YouPlus and its CEO Shaukat Shamim with defrauding investors. Shamim allegedly made false statements about the company's revenue and customer numbers, including providing falsified bank statements. The scheme unravelled when Shamim confessed to investors that the company had earned less than $500,000 and had only four paying customers since 2013. The SEC is seeking permanent injunctions, civil penalties, and an officer-and-director bar.
- Company involved
- YouPlus
- AI system involved
- YouPlus machine-learning tool
1 source article · read the reporting →
Insurer drops California homeowner after aerial photo analysis
Cindy Picos was dropped by her home insurer after the company used aerial photos to assess her roof. The insurer refused to let her see the photos, and she believes her roof is in fine shape. The incident highlights the growing use of drones and aerial imagery by insurers to inspect properties without in-person visits.
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