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.

Report what happened to you →

4,576 incidentspress and self-reported

Page 115 of 191

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

WF-2865P3Happened 1 Aug 2012Live 5 Oct 2026
Knight Capital fined $12 million for 2012 trading glitch that caused $460 million loss
On August 1, 2012, Knight Capital Americas LLC's automated equity router malfunctioned due to a code deployment error, sending over 4 million erroneous orders into the market within 45 minutes. The firm suffered a loss of more than $460 million. The SEC charged Knight Capital with violating the market access rule and Regulation SHO, and the firm agreed to pay a $12 million penalty and retain an independent consultant.
Company
Knight Capital Americas LLC
AI system
Knight Capital's automated equity router
10 source articlessec.gov
WF-0K47RDLive 5 Oct 2026
Idaho Medicaid used secret formula to cut assistance for disabled adults
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare used a secret formula to drastically cut Medicaid assistance for adults with developmental disabilities, claiming the formula was a trade secret. The ACLU of Idaho filed a class action lawsuit, K.W. v. Armstrong, in 2012, alleging the cuts violated due process. A federal court struck down the formula in 2016 and ordered a new system, but as of 2024, a fair system has not yet been implemented.
Company
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
10 source articlesacluidaho.org
WF-54EB8ULive 5 Oct 2026
Target's pregnancy prediction algorithm reveals teen's pregnancy to father
Target used a data mining algorithm to predict when customers were pregnant based on their purchases. The algorithm sent baby product coupons to a high school student, leading her father to complain to the store. The father later learned his daughter was indeed pregnant. Target subsequently altered the coupons to disguise the data mining.
Company
Target
AI system
Target pregnancy prediction algorithm
9 source articlesabc.net.au
WF-9PIBK7Happened 1 Dec 2012Live 5 Oct 2026
Google found liable for defamatory search results in Australia
Google's search engine displayed images of Milorad Trkulja alongside convicted criminals and suggested defamatory autocomplete predictions. Trkulja sued Google for defamation. The High Court of Australia ruled that Google could be considered a publisher of the search results and that the material was capable of being defamatory, allowing the case to proceed.
Company
Google LLC
AI system
Google Search
10 source articlesglobalfreedomofexpression.columbia.edu
WF-VX03JZHappened 1 Jan 2009Live 5 Oct 2026
Google Search results for 'black girls' and 'three black teenagers' showed pornographic and mugshot images
Google Search returned pornographic results for the query 'black girls' and mugshots for 'three black teenagers', reflecting racial and gender stereotypes. The author, Safiya Noble, documented these results from 2009 to 2016. Google initially denied responsibility but later tweaked its algorithm to change the results. The incident highlights systemic bias in search algorithms.
Company
Google
AI system
Google Search
8 source articlestime.com
WF-MDQFY6Happened 1 Jan 2013Live 5 Oct 2026
Bettina Wulff settles with Google over Autocomplete name associations
Bettina Wulff, wife of former German president Christian Wulff, sued Google over its Autocomplete feature that combined her name with terms from the red-light district. The search engine automatically generated such suggestions. Google and Wulff reached an out-of-court settlement, and Google independently changed its guidelines. The Federal Court of Justice had ruled in 2013 that Google must delete search suggestions that directly violate personality rights.
Company
Google
AI system
Autocomplete
10 source articlessueddeutsche.de
WF-ZYUFS6Happened 4 Aug 2020Live 5 Oct 2026
Amsterdam court orders Uber and Ola to disclose robo-firing algorithms
The Amsterdam Court of Appeal ruled that Uber and Ola Cabs violated drivers' GDPR rights by using automated systems to dismiss workers without meaningful human intervention or transparency. The court found that Uber's fraud detection system profiled drivers and made erroneous fraud allegations, leading to account deactivations that the court deemed 'robo-firing'. Uber and Ola were ordered to provide drivers with information on how automated decision-making affects work allocation, pay, and dismissals, rejecting the companies' trade secret arguments. The ruling is a significant win for gig economy workers, though the UK government is advancing a bill that would strip similar protections.
Company
Uber
5 source articlesworkerinfoexchange.org
WF-ZZE9XYHappened 1 Jun 2024Live 5 Oct 2026
Facebook's spam filter blocks vital wildfire safety warnings, endangering lives
Facebook's automated spam detection system has been flagging and removing posts containing critical wildfire safety information, including updates from volunteer groups and official agencies. The removals, which began increasing in June 2024, have affected residents in California and other western states during a severe wildfire season. Users report not being notified of the removals, and appeals have gone unanswered. Facebook says it is investigating the issue.
Company
Facebook
3 source articlesthecooldown.com
WF-ZVUJGHLive 5 Oct 2026
Parents sue Hingham Public Schools over AI project D grade
The parents of a Hingham High School senior allege the school unfairly punished him for using AI on a social studies project, giving him a D and Saturday detention despite no handbook rule against AI. They say the grade kept him out of the National Honor Society and threatens his applications to top-tier colleges. The family sued Hingham High School administration and the school district in Plymouth County District Court, seeking a grade change and NHS admission. Hingham Public Schools has declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.
Company
Hingham Public Schools
2 source articlesfoxnews.com
WF-ZZHCAEHappened 1 Jun 2017Live 5 Oct 2026
IBM Watson for Oncology recommended unsafe cancer treatments
Internal IBM documents reveal that its Watson for Oncology system often provided erroneous cancer treatment advice, including 'multiple examples of unsafe and incorrect treatment recommendations'. The problems were attributed to training on a small number of synthetic cases and the expertise of a few specialists rather than real patient data or established guidelines. The system was promoted to hospitals and physicians worldwide. It is unclear whether any patients were harmed as a result.
Company
IBM
AI system
Watson for Oncology
2 source articlesstatnews.com
WF-ZXEM9QHappened 20 Nov 2025Live 5 Oct 2026
PT Perusahaan Uangtunai Uses AI Deepfake of Ustaz Bustomi for Facebook Scam
On 20 November 2025, the Facebook account 'PT perusahaan uangtunai' posted an AI-generated video of Ustaz Ujang Bustomi, falsely claiming he was giving away money. The video, detected as 96.9% likely AI-generated, was part of a scam to deceive users. The real Ustaz Bustomi had previously warned that such offers are fraudulent. The post received over 12,500 likes and 7,100 comments before being fact-checked.
Company
PT perusahaan uangtunai
1 source articleturnbackhoax.id
WF-ZYJE3NHappened 28 Feb 2022Live 5 Oct 2026
Meta blocks Ghostwriter hackers targeting Ukraine's army
Meta blocked phishing domains used by the Ghostwriter hacking group, which has been targeting Ukrainian military officials and social media users. The group, linked to the Belarusian government, is known for breaking into news sites to plant fake stories and spread disinformation. Meta also removed a troll network that allegedly used AI-generated avatars to impersonate editors and scientists, operating fake news sites to spread narratives about Ukraine being a failed state.
Company
Meta
AI system
Ghostwriter
6 source articlesthedailybeast.com
WF-ZWZ3BGLive 5 Oct 2026
Yanis Varoufakis confronts deepfake videos on YouTube impersonating him
Yanis Varoufakis discovered deepfake AI-generated videos on YouTube that used his likeness and voice to make him say things he never said. The videos proliferated across social media, causing reputational harm. He contacted Google and Meta to take them down, but they kept reappearing. The incident remains unresolved.
Company
YouTube
1 source articletheguardian.com
WF-ZWJ4AEHappened 1 Nov 2025Live 5 Oct 2026
Shilpa Shetty sues platforms over AI deepfakes and identity misuse
Actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra has filed a lawsuit in the Bombay High Court against 28 defendants, including Amazon, Flipkart, Meta, Google, and X Corp, alleging that AI tools were used to create deepfake videos and voice clones portraying her in obscene and defamatory contexts without consent. She also claims that e-commerce sites sold products using her name and image, falsely implying endorsement. The suit seeks injunctions, takedown of infringing content, and damages of ₹5 lakh, alleging violations of her personality rights under the Indian Constitution and Copyright Act. The case is pending.
1 source articlethehindu.com
WF-ZVJTU7Happened 17 Oct 2024Live 5 Oct 2026
AI-generated deepfake used in scam claiming Croatian doctor was murdered
A video generated by artificial intelligence was posted on Facebook falsely claiming that Dr. Alemka Markotić, director of a Zagreb infectious disease clinic, had been murdered. The deepfake depicted a TV host and Dr. Markotić promoting a non-existent joint pain treatment. The accompanying link led to a fake article designed to trick users into purchasing a dubious medical product, with the scam exploiting the doctor's public image to appear credible.
Company
Facebook
AI system
AI video generator
1 source articlefaktograf.hr
WF-ZVEFJ9Happened 1 Nov 2025Live 5 Oct 2026
AI Deepfakes Impersonate Pastors to Scam US Congregations
AI-generated deepfakes are impersonating pastors across the United States, soliciting donations and spreading incendiary sermons. Father Mike Schmitz, a Catholic priest, warned his followers after fake videos of him urged viewers to click links for blessings. TikTok removed several fake accounts after being alerted, but similar scams have been reported in multiple states.
1 source articlewired.com
WF-ZV5P97Happened 1 Dec 2022Live 5 Oct 2026
Cybercheck AI tool challenged in Akron homicide cases
Law enforcement in Akron, Ohio, used the AI tool Cybercheck to place two defendants at a murder scene. Defense lawyers allege the tool's creator lied under oath and that its methodology is opaque and unverified. Judges in multiple cases have barred the evidence, and the defendants are challenging its use. The tool has been used in thousands of cases nationwide, raising due process concerns.
Company
Akron Police Department
AI system
Cybercheck
3 source articlesnbcnews.com
WF-ZS9SHDHappened 12 Jul 2022Live 5 Oct 2026
Kmart, Bunnings and The Good Guys use facial recognition on customers without consent
A CHOICE investigation found that Kmart, Bunnings and The Good Guys were using facial recognition technology in stores, capturing customers' biometric data with only small, inconspicuous signage. Most shoppers were unaware, and privacy experts said the practice may breach the Privacy Act. CHOICE referred the retailers to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, which launched investigations. The Good Guys paused its use of the technology pending the outcome.
Company
Kmart, Bunnings, The Good Guys
2 source articleschoice.com.au
WF-ZUTWU7Live 5 Oct 2026
Google's Waze App Blocks Wildfire Escape Route in Los Gatos, Residents Say
Residents of historic neighborhoods in Los Gatos, California, allege that Google's Waze navigation app is routing heavy beach traffic through their streets, blocking the only wildfire evacuation route. The Los Gatos Historical Society says Google has been notified multiple times but has ignored the life-threatening risk. A U.S. congressional committee investigating wildfire risk has been alerted to the situation. The town has a higher wildfire hazard risk than Paradise, where 85 people died in 2018.
Company
Google
AI system
Waze
2 source articlesprnewswire.com
WF-ZRK3ZYLive 5 Oct 2026
Wikipedia bots engaged in years-long editing wars, study finds
A study by Oxford Internet Institute and the Alan Turing Institute found that software bots on Wikipedia have been engaged in persistent editing conflicts, undoing each other's changes for years. Bots like Xqbot and Darknessbot fought over thousands of articles between 2009 and 2010, with conflicts only ending when a bot was deactivated. The researchers noted that bots follow different rules, leading to unpredictable interactions. The findings highlight the potential for unintended consequences when autonomous algorithms interact.
6 source articlestheguardian.com
WF-ZRNJMYHappened 22 Feb 2023Live 5 Oct 2026
Journalist Bypasses Lloyds Bank Voice ID with AI-Generated Voice Clone
A journalist used an AI-generated clone of his own voice to bypass the voice authentication system of Lloyds Bank, gaining access to his account. The experiment, conducted using ElevenLabs' free voice synthesis service, demonstrated that voice biometrics can be fooled by synthetic voices. Lloyds Bank stated it is aware of the threat and is deploying countermeasures, but has not seen real-world fraud using this method. The incident raises concerns about the security of voice verification used by many banks.
Company
Lloyds Bank
AI system
Voice ID
1 source articlevice.com
WF-ZPAAV3Live 5 Oct 2026
Facebook apologises after mistranslation leads Israeli police to arrest Palestinian man
A Palestinian man was arrested by Israeli police after Facebook's automatic translation of his Arabic-language 'good morning' post rendered it as a threat, reportedly 'attack them' or 'slaughter them'. No Arabic-speaking officer had read the original post before the arrest. Facebook apologised for the error.
Company
Facebook
AI system
Facebook translation algorithm
10 source articlesnews.ycombinator.com
WF-ZTR26NHappened 1 Nov 2023Live 5 Oct 2026
DC attorney general sues 14 landlords over RealPage rent collusion
The Attorney General of Washington DC filed a lawsuit against 14 large landlords, alleging they used RealPage's YieldStar software to form “a District-wide housing cartel” that artificially inflated rents. The complaint claims RealPage's pricing algorithm used data supplied by the landlords and pressurised them to follow its rate recommendations, with one firm's internal presentation stating at least 95% compliance was expected. This alleged scheme caused residents to pay millions of dollars above fair market prices during a housing affordability crisis.
Company
Greystar Management Services
AI system
YieldStar
10 source articlesarstechnica.com
WF-ZQWJ2QHappened 1 Mar 2019Live 5 Oct 2026
Tesla sued by family of Jeremy Beren Banner over fatal Autopilot crash
The family of Jeremy Beren Banner is suing Tesla for wrongful death after his Model 3 crashed into a tractor-trailer while Autopilot was engaged. Banner, 50, died when the car collided at 68 mph and its roof was torn off. Tesla claims Banner removed his hands from the wheel immediately after activating Autopilot, but the family's lawyer disputes this. The lawsuit alleges the car was defective and that Tesla's sales language overpromises self-driving capability.
Company
Tesla
AI system
Autopilot
4 source articlesbusinessinsider.com

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

Knight Capital fined $12 million for 2012 trading glitch that caused $460 million loss

Idaho Medicaid used secret formula to cut assistance for disabled adults

Target's pregnancy prediction algorithm reveals teen's pregnancy to father

Google found liable for defamatory search results in Australia

Google Search results for 'black girls' and 'three black teenagers' showed pornographic and mugshot images

Bettina Wulff settles with Google over Autocomplete name associations

Amsterdam court orders Uber and Ola to disclose robo-firing algorithms

Facebook's spam filter blocks vital wildfire safety warnings, endangering lives

Parents sue Hingham Public Schools over AI project D grade

IBM Watson for Oncology recommended unsafe cancer treatments

PT Perusahaan Uangtunai Uses AI Deepfake of Ustaz Bustomi for Facebook Scam

Meta blocks Ghostwriter hackers targeting Ukraine's army

Yanis Varoufakis confronts deepfake videos on YouTube impersonating him

Shilpa Shetty sues platforms over AI deepfakes and identity misuse

AI-generated deepfake used in scam claiming Croatian doctor was murdered

AI Deepfakes Impersonate Pastors to Scam US Congregations

Cybercheck AI tool challenged in Akron homicide cases

Kmart, Bunnings and The Good Guys use facial recognition on customers without consent

Google's Waze App Blocks Wildfire Escape Route in Los Gatos, Residents Say

Wikipedia bots engaged in years-long editing wars, study finds

Journalist Bypasses Lloyds Bank Voice ID with AI-Generated Voice Clone

Facebook apologises after mistranslation leads Israeli police to arrest Palestinian man

DC attorney general sues 14 landlords over RealPage rent collusion

Tesla sued by family of Jeremy Beren Banner over fatal Autopilot crash