The public record

Where automated decisions went wrong

Incidents gathered from public reporting around the world. Each one links to the articles it came from. None of it is a finding that anyone broke the law.

Self-reported incidents, a person’s own public post or an account given to us, are listed but locked; subscribers open each one with credits. Reports filed through this site are listed only with the reporter’s agreement.

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4,498 incidentspress and self-reported

Page 105 of 188

Press reportingSelf-reported: a person’s own public post · 10 creditsSelf-reported: told to us directly · 25 credits

WF-MTUZ90Live 5 Oct 2026
Lowe's uses face recognition on customers without disclosure
Lowe's, a hardware retailer, uses face recognition technology in its stores to identify known shoplifters without informing customers. The ACLU contacted Lowe's and they confirmed the practice. The company states that they do not retain facial data on non-matches. The use of face recognition raises privacy concerns and has been found to have racially differential impacts.
Company
Lowe's
AI system
face recognition technology
10 source articlesaclu.org
WF-2JDFGTHappened 5 Jun 2020Live 5 Oct 2026
Amazon's automated HR wrongly fires sick workers with coronavirus
Amazon's automated human resources system reportedly denied sick-leave to workers with COVID-19 and wrongfully initiated termination proceedings against some who were sick or recovering. The system, designed to handle HR requests automatically, failed under the influx of pandemic-related demands, leaving employees on hold for hours or dealing with chatbots. Six warehouse workers from Indiana to New Jersey described the problems to Bloomberg.
Company
Amazon
AI system
Automated HR system (chatbots and automated termination tracking)
8 source articlesdailymail.co.uk
WF-M5I60BHappened 1 Jan 2019Live 5 Oct 2026
Google's algorithm blurs protest graffiti on Hong Kong Street View
Google Street View's automatic blurring technology obscured two protest graffiti messages on Nathan Road in Hong Kong, including one calling for the death of Xi Jinping and another calling for liberation. Google said the blurring was an unintended algorithmic error, not deliberate censorship, and the messages remained partly visible from certain angles. The company acknowledged the flaw but did not indicate whether it would correct the images.
Company
Google
AI system
Google Street View
7 source articlesthenextweb.com
WF-5IH5EHHappened 22 Oct 2019Live 5 Oct 2026
Gradient app charges users unexpected subscription fees after free trial
The Gradient app, a celebrity lookalike app promoted by the Kardashians, charges users $19.99 per month after a three-day free trial without clear disclosure. Users complained on social media about unexpected credit card charges. The app's developer, Ticket to the Moon, has not addressed the billing complaints but denied collecting user data.
Company
Ticket to the Moon, Inc.
AI system
Gradient
9 source articlesmashable.com
WF-FZFJFNHappened 1 Aug 2011Live 5 Oct 2026
Legal challenge against Met Police's discriminatory Gangs Matrix
The Metropolitan Police's Gangs Violence Matrix is a secretive database that disproportionately affects Black individuals. Liberty and the Civil Liberties Trust launched a judicial review on behalf of Awate Suleiman and UNJUST, alleging the Matrix discriminates on racial grounds and breaches human rights and data protection laws. The case resulted in the Met agreeing to overhaul the Matrix.
Company
Metropolitan Police
AI system
Gangs Violence Matrix
9 source articlescrowdjustice.com
WF-A76PH1Live 5 Oct 2026
Robotic surgery complications underreported to FDA, study finds
A Johns Hopkins study found that out of approximately one million robotic surgeries performed since 2000, only 245 complications including 71 deaths were reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The researchers allege that hospitals and manufacturers often fail to report adverse events as required, and some incidents were only reported after media coverage. The study highlights a lack of transparency and independent data collection for robotic surgery safety.
10 source articlessciencedaily.com
WF-DK01RZHappened 1 Jan 2019Live 5 Oct 2026
TikTok suppressed posts by users deemed unattractive, poor, or disabled
TikTok instructed moderators to suppress videos from users deemed too ugly, poor, or disabled from the 'For You' feed, according to internal documents obtained by The Intercept. The policy was justified as necessary to attract new users. TikTok acknowledged the policies but said they were no longer in place.
Company
TikTok
AI system
For You feed algorithm
10 source articlestheintercept.com
WF-PA1ZLGHappened 1 Apr 2020Live 5 Oct 2026
Workaround compiled Instagram selfies into face-mask facial recognition training set
Workaround, an AI startup, published the COVID19 Mask Image Dataset in April 2020, containing more than 1,200 photographs of people wearing face masks scraped from Instagram without their knowledge or consent. The dataset was intended to help train facial recognition algorithms so they could identify people whose faces are partly covered during the COVID-19 pandemic. The firm's chief executive acknowledged that the people pictured were not asked for permission and were unaware they were included. Facebook said it was investigating and does not allow third parties to use photos in this way without consent.
Company
Workaround
AI system
COVID19 Mask Image Dataset
10 source articlescnet.com
WF-B0GPTRLive 5 Oct 2026
Instagram denies study claiming it boosts semi-nudity
Instagram is accused of boosting content containing semi-nudity, based on a study. The company denies the claim, stating that posts are surfaced based on interests and timeliness, and that the study was flawed due to its extremely small sample size. No harm or further action was reported.
Company
Instagram
10 source articlestwitter.com
WF-8SFEWKHappened 23 Jul 2020Live 5 Oct 2026
Google's ad portal suggested porn keywords for 'Black girls'
Google's Keyword Planner, used by advertisers to select search terms, suggested hundreds of pornographic keywords when users searched for 'Black girls', 'Latina girls', and 'Asian girls', but returned no suggestions for 'White girls' or 'White boys'. The Markup reported that Google's own adult filter flagged many of these terms, but the system still recommended them. Google acknowledged the issue, removed the terms, and said it was working to prevent recurrence.
Company
Google
AI system
Google Ads Keyword Planner
9 source articlesthemarkup.org
WF-ZN5AQGLive 5 Oct 2026
Worker killed by robot at SKH Metals car parts factory in India
A 24-year-old worker, Ramji Lal, was killed by a pre-programmed welding robot at the SKH Metals car parts factory in Manesar, India. The robot's welding sticks pierced his abdomen when he reached from behind to adjust a dislodged metal sheet. Police have booked the company management and contractor on charges of causing death due to negligence, and an investigation is ongoing.
Company
SKH Metals
6 source articlesindependent.co.uk
WF-1FPK32Happened 1 Jul 2019Live 5 Oct 2026
Telegram bot used AI to create fake nude images of over 100,000 women
A Telegram bot used artificial intelligence to digitally remove clothes from photos of women, creating fake nude images. The bot, run by an administrator known as 'P', was used to generate and share images of over 100,000 women, some of whom appeared underage. The report by intelligence company Sensity alleges that the bot was used to create and distribute the images without consent. The administrator defended the service as 'entertainment' and claimed he would remove the images.
10 source articlesbbc.co.uk
WF-VGX7I6Happened 13 Mar 2020Live 5 Oct 2026
These Nudes Do Not Exist sells AI-generated nude images of women
These Nudes Do Not Exist, a startup, sells AI-generated nude images of non-existent women for a dollar per photo. The site uses Generative Adversarial Networks trained on a database of nude images of real women, raising ethical concerns about consent and commodification. The co-founders remain anonymous and claim to use only ethically sourced data, but the article questions the verifiability of consent.
Company
These Nudes Do Not Exist
AI system
These Nudes Do Not Exist
7 source articlesbigthink.com
WF-GYPBDOHappened 1 Aug 2020Live 5 Oct 2026
Instagram reviews semi-nudity policy after deleting Black plus-size influencer's photo
Instagram deleted a photo of Black plus-size influencer Nyome Nicholas-Williams showing her topless with arms covering her breasts, and warned her account could be removed. After a campaign using the hashtag #iwanttoseenyome and a petition with over 18,000 signatures, Instagram apologized, restored the photo, and reviewed its semi-nudity policy. The platform acknowledged that its AI and human review teams had made mistakes in enforcing the policy against plus-size bodies.
Company
Instagram
10 source articlesstandard.co.uk
WF-GSXNEVHappened 30 Apr 2015Live 5 Oct 2026
Microsoft's How Old app gives inaccurate age estimates, becomes meme
Microsoft demonstrated its face-recognition API at the Build conference on April 30, 2015, with a demo app called How Old that estimated ages from photos. Users quickly found the estimates were often wildly inaccurate and began mocking the app on social media. Microsoft acknowledged the inaccuracy and said it would improve the underlying technology.
Company
Microsoft
AI system
How Old
8 source articlesventurebeat.com
WF-H13NQOLive 5 Oct 2026
Facebook sued for harvesting Instagram users' facial scans
A class action lawsuit alleges that Facebook, Inc. illegally harvested the facial scans of over 100 million Instagram users without their consent, in violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act. The lawsuit claims that Facebook's facial recognition software automatically scanned faces in photos and created biometric templates without providing required notices or obtaining informed consent. The case was sent to arbitration in March 2022 after a federal judge found that the plaintiffs agreed to Instagram's arbitration clause.
Company
Facebook, Inc.
AI system
Instagram facial recognition system
10 source articlesclassaction.org
WF-LMMIC5Happened 20 Dec 2020Live 5 Oct 2026
Facebook automated system temporarily blocks Kisan Ekta Morcha page as spam
Facebook's automated spam detection system flagged the Kisan Ekta Morcha page as spam due to increased activity, temporarily blocking it. The page, used by farmers protesting at the Delhi-Haryana border, was restored within three hours after Facebook became aware of the context. Facebook stated that the flagging was automatic and that human review restored the page.
Company
Facebook
AI system
Facebook automated spam detection system
10 source articlestimesofindia.indiatimes.com
WF-1GYM74Happened 1 Aug 2020Live 5 Oct 2026
Austrian court lifts ban on AMS job-chance prediction algorithm
The Austrian Federal Administrative Court overturned a ban by the Data Protection Authority on the AMS algorithm, which predicts job chances of unemployed people. The system, trained on historical data including age, gender, and nationality, categorises individuals as high, medium or low chance of re-employment. Critics argue it discriminates against women and mothers, and that the data is now outdated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The court ruled that the algorithm is lawful as long as a human advisor makes the final decision on training support.
Company
Arbeitsmarktservice (AMS)
AI system
AMS-Algorithmus
5 source articlesnetzpolitik.org
WF-CPA4AHHappened 9 Oct 2020Live 5 Oct 2026
Facebook's AI fails to label misinformation variations ahead of US election
Avaaz's investigation found that Facebook's AI detection system failed to label 738 posts containing variations of fact-checked misinformation, allowing them to accumulate 142 million views. The posts included false claims about presidential candidates and mail-in ballots. Despite Facebook's claims that its AI can recognize near-duplicates, simple tweaks to content circumvented the system. Avaaz provided evidence to Facebook, but only 4% of the flagged posts were subsequently labeled.
Company
Facebook
9 source articlessecure.avaaz.org
WF-XL6HMAHappened 23 Feb 2015Live 5 Oct 2026
Consumer groups ask FTC to investigate YouTube Kids app for deceptive ads
Several consumer groups filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission alleging that Google's YouTube Kids app mixes advertising with programming in ways that are deceptive to children. The complaint argues that the app uses host selling and undisclosed endorsements, which would be illegal on television. YouTube responded that it worked with child advocacy groups and disagreed with the contentions. The FTC has not yet acted on the complaint.
Company
Google
AI system
YouTube Kids
10 source articlesbits.blogs.nytimes.com
WF-4EA5DUHappened 1 Mar 2020Live 5 Oct 2026
Facebook apologises for blocking homemade mask volunteer groups
Facebook apologised after its automated systems blocked volunteer groups sharing information about making and donating homemade masks for the medical community. The systems were set up to prevent the sale of medical masks but inadvertently hampered donation efforts. Facebook said it would update its systems to avoid such mistakes.
Company
Facebook
AI system
Mask-related content moderation system
4 source articlesmediapost.com
WF-2ZNE3KHappened 8 Jan 2018Live 5 Oct 2026
Huawei and Megvii tested Uyghur alarm facial recognition system
Huawei and Megvii conducted an interoperability test in 2018 that verified a 'Uyghur alarm' function in Megvii's facial recognition system, according to a confidential report found by IPVM. The system could identify Uyghur minorities and alert police. Huawei denied real-world application and deleted the report after IPVM inquired. Megvii denied targeting ethnic groups. The test report was publicly accessible on Huawei's European website.
Company
Huawei
AI system
Megvii Dynamic Face Recognition
10 source articlesipvm.com
WF-UXMPE7Happened 7 Oct 2020Live 5 Oct 2026
Facebook lifts ban on Newfoundland seed advertisement after AI flagged it as sexual
Facebook's AI content moderation system banned an advertisement for seeds from The Seed Company by E.W. Gaze, deeming the image of onions as 'overtly sexual'. The company contacted Facebook, and the ban was lifted after human review. Facebook apologized for the error.
Company
Facebook
8 source articlesatlantic.ctvnews.ca
WF-E3X8OUHappened 1 Jan 2019Live 5 Oct 2026
Verkada employees used surveillance system to capture and share images of female colleagues with sexual comments
A group of male employees at Verkada accessed the company's video surveillance system to capture images of female employees without their knowledge and shared them in a Slack channel with graphic sexual comments. The incident, which occurred in 2019, highlighted a frat-like culture and alleged discrimination against women and minorities. Verkada responded by taking disciplinary action against some employees, including financial penalties and termination, but critics say the response was insufficient.
Company
Verkada
AI system
Verkada video surveillance system
5 source articlesipvm.com

Each incident is written from the reporting or the account it cites. A report is an allegation, not a finding.

Lowe's uses face recognition on customers without disclosure

Amazon's automated HR wrongly fires sick workers with coronavirus

Google's algorithm blurs protest graffiti on Hong Kong Street View

Gradient app charges users unexpected subscription fees after free trial

Legal challenge against Met Police's discriminatory Gangs Matrix

Robotic surgery complications underreported to FDA, study finds

TikTok suppressed posts by users deemed unattractive, poor, or disabled

Workaround compiled Instagram selfies into face-mask facial recognition training set

Instagram denies study claiming it boosts semi-nudity

Google's ad portal suggested porn keywords for 'Black girls'

Worker killed by robot at SKH Metals car parts factory in India

Telegram bot used AI to create fake nude images of over 100,000 women

These Nudes Do Not Exist sells AI-generated nude images of women

Instagram reviews semi-nudity policy after deleting Black plus-size influencer's photo

Microsoft's How Old app gives inaccurate age estimates, becomes meme

Facebook sued for harvesting Instagram users' facial scans

Facebook automated system temporarily blocks Kisan Ekta Morcha page as spam

Austrian court lifts ban on AMS job-chance prediction algorithm

Facebook's AI fails to label misinformation variations ahead of US election

Consumer groups ask FTC to investigate YouTube Kids app for deceptive ads

Facebook apologises for blocking homemade mask volunteer groups

Huawei and Megvii tested Uyghur alarm facial recognition system

Facebook lifts ban on Newfoundland seed advertisement after AI flagged it as sexual

Verkada employees used surveillance system to capture and share images of female colleagues with sexual comments