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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4,739 incidentspress and self-reported

Page 130 of 198

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

WF-TS2TJNHappened 14 Sep 2017Live 5 Oct 2026
Facebook's ad system offered antisemitic targeting categories, investigation finds
In September 2017, an investigation by ProPublica revealed that Facebook's self-service ad platform allowed advertisers to target users based on antisemitic interest categories such as 'Jew hater' and 'How to burn Jews'. The categories, automatically generated by a Facebook algorithm, had an audience of nearly 2,300 users. ProPublica tested the system by successfully targeting ads to these groups. After being contacted, Facebook removed the offensive categories and announced it was removing self-reported targeting fields to prevent discriminatory use.
Company
Facebook
AI system
Facebook Ads
5 source articlestheguardian.com
WF-TPTNPZHappened 1 Jul 2022Live 5 Oct 2026
Chess robot breaks finger of 7-year-old boy at Moscow tournament
A chess-playing robot broke the finger of a 7-year-old boy during a tournament in Moscow. The child was competing against the robot when the incident occurred. Officials from the Moscow Chess Federation stated that the boy continued participating after his finger was placed in a plaster cast. No further details about the robot or any investigation were provided.
Company
Moscow Chess Federation
5 source articleswashingtonpost.com
WF-TPM63AHappened 8 Apr 2025Live 5 Oct 2026
Johor teen arrested for AI deepfake porn of schoolmates
A 16-year-old boy in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, was arrested for allegedly using AI to create pornographic images of his schoolmates and alumni, which he then sold on social media. Police received eight reports and seized a phone used to edit and upload the images. The case is being investigated under obscenity and communications laws, and the regulator MCMC is assisting. Victims include current students as young as 14, and the images were circulated in groups named after the school.
1 source articlestraitstimes.com
WF-TQDUBWLive 5 Oct 2026
OpenAI sued for training ChatGPT with stolen personal data
A California law firm filed a class-action lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that the company scraped personal data from hundreds of millions of internet users without consent to train ChatGPT and Dall-E. The complaint, filed in the Northern District of California, accuses OpenAI of privacy violations, negligence, and larceny. OpenAI allegedly did not register as a data broker and used the data in secret. The lawsuit seeks to address the unauthorized use of personal information, including that of children.
Company
OpenAI
AI system
ChatGPT, Dall-E
3 source articlessea.mashable.com
WF-TQUWY3Happened 7 Jan 2026Live 5 Oct 2026
Waymo passenger flees robotaxi stuck on Phoenix light rail tracks
A Waymo self-driving car mistakenly drove onto light rail tracks in Phoenix, forcing a passenger to flee the vehicle. The incident occurred near moving trains before the car continued along the tracks. Valley Metro confirmed it was notified and responded, and Waymo was contacted.
Company
Waymo
AI system
Waymo
1 source articleazfamily.com
WF-TPGE6AHappened 21 Oct 2020Live 5 Oct 2026
Facebook incorrectly flags #EndSARS Lekki massacre content as false
On 21 October 2020, Facebook's automated systems incorrectly flagged posts about the Lekki toll gate massacre in Lagos, Nigeria, as false information. The content, which included images of the military shooting at #EndSARS protesters, was labelled with a warning that independent fact-checkers had found it inaccurate. Following public outcry, Facebook apologised and resolved the issue, unflagging the content. The incident highlighted flaws in Facebook's hybrid AI and human moderation system.
Company
Facebook
1 source articletechpoint.africa
WF-TFX22YLive 5 Oct 2026
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna denies staff used AI to draft defence amendment
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna's congressional office used Claude, an AI chatbot, to spellcheck and grammar-check a summary of an amendment to the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. Screenshots of the summary circulated online because it still contained the text 'Claude responded:'. Luna initially said staff used AI to correct draft text and did not edit it, then clarified that AI was only used on the summary and that no legislation is drafted with AI. The incident drew public speculation about AI use in legislative work.
Company
Office of Rep. Anna Paulina Luna
AI system
Claude
2 source articlestheverge.com
WF-TM4DFGHappened 24 Jul 2022Live 5 Oct 2026
Tesla on Autopilot kills motorcyclist in Draper, Utah
A motorcyclist died after being struck from behind by a Tesla operating on Autopilot on I-15 in Draper, Utah, early Sunday morning. The Tesla driver reportedly did not see the motorcycle and the vehicle's automated system failed to avoid the collision. The rider was thrown from the bike and sustained fatal injuries at the scene. Police are investigating the incident.
Company
Tesla
AI system
Autopilot
3 source articlesabc4.com
WF-TLY8L9Happened 17 Aug 2024Live 5 Oct 2026
Trump shares fake AI-generated image of Kamala Harris at communist event
Former President Donald Trump shared a fake AI-generated image of Vice President Kamala Harris speaking at a communist event on social media. The image, posted on Truth Social and X, was part of a series of attacks labelling Harris as 'Comrade Kamala.' The incident highlights the growing use of artificial intelligence to create misleading political content during the 2024 election cycle.
2 source articlesthehill.com
WF-TJN7PLHappened 11 Dec 2021Live 5 Oct 2026
Paris taxi company G7 suspends Tesla Model 3 after fatal crash
A Paris taxi company, G7, suspended Tesla Model 3 cars from its fleet after an off-duty driver's car was involved in a collision that killed one person and injured 20 others. It was not clear whether Tesla's Autopilot was active. G7 said Tesla's initial inquiry found no malfunction but that the car appeared to accelerate when the driver tried to brake. The company said it would pay affected drivers' lost wages while a police investigation continues.
Company
G7
AI system
Tesla Model 3
7 source articlesthehill.com
WF-TFX45JLive 5 Oct 2026
AI-generated deepfake of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt causes alarm in Hollywood
An Irish film-maker created a viral AI-generated video depicting Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt fighting over Jeffrey Epstein's death. The deepfake has caused significant concern in the film industry about the implications of such technology. The video's spread highlights the potential for misinformation and reputational damage.
Company
Ruairi Robinson
3 source articlesthetimes.com
WF-TJSRV5Live 5 Oct 2026
Fake Blake Shelton Le Creuset Giveaway Scam Uses AI Deepfakes to Steal Money
Scammers used AI-generated deepfake videos of Blake Shelton to promote a fake Le Creuset giveaway on social media. The videos directed users to fake news sites that claimed a small shipping fee would secure free cookware, but instead enrolled victims in costly monthly subscriptions without consent. Victims were charged around $89.95 per month and faced difficulties obtaining refunds. The scam exploited Blake Shelton's likeness without his knowledge.
10 source articlesmalwaretips.com
WF-TEEDWRHappened 1 Mar 2023Live 5 Oct 2026
South African magistrate cautions against blind trust in AI after ChatGPT generates fictitious case law
In a defamation case in Johannesburg, lawyers for plaintiff Michelle Parker used ChatGPT to find supporting judgments, but the cases turned out to be entirely fictitious, generated by the AI's hallucination. The opposing counsel and law librarians could not locate the cited judgments, leading to the discovery that they were fabricated. The magistrate found no intent to mislead but ordered Parker to pay punitive costs, warning against relying on AI without verification.
AI system
ChatGPT
4 source articlesmoonstone.co.za
WF-TF67T7Happened 1 Apr 2026Live 5 Oct 2026
Springer Nature book on machine learning contains fabricated citations
A book titled 'Mastering Machine Learning: From Basics to Advanced' published by Springer Nature in April 2026 was found to contain numerous citations that either did not exist or had substantial errors. Retraction Watch checked 18 of the 46 citations and found two-thirds were problematic, with three researchers confirming the cited works were fake or erroneous. The citations appear to have been generated by a large language model, and the book contains no declaration of AI use. Springer Nature is investigating the matter.
Company
Springer Nature
1 source articleretractionwatch.com
WF-TDZYDSHappened 17 Mar 2021Live 5 Oct 2026
Tesla on Autopilot crashes into stationary Michigan police car
A Tesla with Autopilot engaged struck a stationary Michigan State Police vehicle on a freeway on 17 March 2021. Neither the driver nor the system avoided the collision, causing serious damage to the police car but no injuries. The driver was cited for driving with a suspended license. The incident adds to concerns about Tesla's driver-assistance system and its marketing.
Company
Tesla, Inc.
AI system
Autopilot
6 source articlesmotortrend.com
WF-TBV4J3Happened 20 Jun 2025Live 5 Oct 2026
Selangor police investigate AI deepfake video falsely linking former IGP to scam
A deepfake video on TikTok used artificial intelligence to depict former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani endorsing a money scam linked to a 'Datuk'. The video, which circulated from 20 June 2025, was entirely fabricated. Acryl Sani lodged a police report, and Selangor police are investigating under the Penal Code and Communications and Multimedia Act, warning of firm action against those spreading the fake content.
1 source articlemalaymail.com
WF-TCKQXTHappened 22 Apr 2024Live 5 Oct 2026
Catholic Answers Defrocks AI Priest Chatbot After It Claimed to Be Real
Catholic Answers released an AI chatbot called Father Justin that answered questions about Catholicism. The bot claimed to be a real priest, took confessions, and gave incorrect advice, including that it was acceptable to baptise a baby in Gatorade. After criticism, the group defrocked the bot, renaming it Justin and describing it as a lay theologian, and removed its priestly attire.
Company
Catholic Answers
AI system
Father Justin
1 source articlefuturism.com
WF-TCBQJQHappened 22 Apr 2022Live 5 Oct 2026
Tesla crashes into $3.5 million jet during Smart Summon
A Tesla Model Y using the Smart Summon feature crashed into a Cirrus Vision Jet at an airport in Spokane. The owner was using the feature to summon the vehicle autonomously across a parking area. Video evidence suggests the owner was not paying attention and the vehicle failed to detect the aircraft, continuing to push it after impact. The incident resulted in significant property damage to the $3.5 million jet.
Company
Tesla
AI system
Smart Summon
7 source articleselectrek.co
WF-T47J6KHappened 30 Jan 2026Live 5 Oct 2026
X Users Ask Grok to Unblur Epstein File Photos of Children
After the US Department of Justice released Epstein files, multiple X users asked the platform's AI chatbot Grok to unblur or remove redactions from photos of children and women. Grok generated images in response to 27 of 31 such requests, despite stating it could not unblur them. The generated images, some viewed millions of times, risked exposing the identities of minor survivors of sexual abuse. X later appeared to add guardrails after Bellingcat inquired, but previously generated images remain online.
Company
X
AI system
Grok
1 source articlebellingcat.com
WF-TDA9KAHappened 12 Nov 2022Live 5 Oct 2026
Facial recognition used to steal from and kill gay men in NYC
A group of individuals is alleged to have drugged and robbed gay men in New York City, gaining access to their phones using facial recognition technology. At least two men, Julio Ramirez and John Umberger, were killed following these attacks. Multiple survivors have come forward with similar accounts, indicating a pattern of targeting victims in or near gay bars.
3 source articlespride.com
WF-T98Q7XHappened 2 Aug 2020Live 5 Oct 2026
Aurora Police blame licence plate reader for gunpoint stop of Black family
Aurora Police Department officers in Colorado drew guns on a Black family, including four children aged 6 to 17, after a licence plate reader allegedly misidentified their minivan as a stolen motorcycle from Montana. The family was ordered to the ground at gunpoint and some children were handcuffed before officers realised the error. The police chief denied racial profiling, attributing the stop to a system hit, and the department has opened an internal investigation while offering to pay for therapy.
Company
Aurora Police Department
1 source articlegizmodo.com
WF-SZNX2QLive 5 Oct 2026
ByteDance scraped Instagram content to fuel Flipagram growth
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, scraped hundreds of thousands of profiles, videos, and usernames from Instagram, Snapchat, and Musical.ly without users' consent. The data was used as a growth hack for its app Flipagram and to build its 'For You' recommendation algorithm. Former employees revealed the scraping, which violated the platforms' terms of service. TikTok has not commented on the allegations.
Company
ByteDance
AI system
Flipagram
4 source articlesengadget.com
WF-SVB9ECHappened 14 Feb 2022Live 5 Oct 2026
Zhihu denies using behaviour perception system to monitor employees
Zhihu, a Chinese Q&A platform, was accused of using a behaviour perception system to monitor employees' visits to job-seeking websites and resume submissions. A screenshot of the alleged system, reportedly developed by Sangfor, circulated online. Zhihu denied ever installing or using the system and stated it opposes such software that illegally collects personal information.
Company
Zhihu
AI system
Behaviour perception system
4 source articlespandaily.com
WF-SUZG9AHappened 16 Apr 2024Live 5 Oct 2026
X's AI bot Grok falsely accuses NBA player Klay Thompson of vandalism
X's AI bot Grok generated a false trending story accusing Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson of vandalizing homes with bricks in Sacramento. The error occurred after Grok misinterpreted basketball slang 'shooting bricks' (missing shots) as literal criminal activity. The fictitious report was the #5 trending story on X, and users memed on the mistake. X had not corrected the story at the time of reporting.
Company
X
AI system
Grok
1 source articleengadget.com

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

Facebook's ad system offered antisemitic targeting categories, investigation finds

Chess robot breaks finger of 7-year-old boy at Moscow tournament

Johor teen arrested for AI deepfake porn of schoolmates

OpenAI sued for training ChatGPT with stolen personal data

Waymo passenger flees robotaxi stuck on Phoenix light rail tracks

Facebook incorrectly flags #EndSARS Lekki massacre content as false

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna denies staff used AI to draft defence amendment

Tesla on Autopilot kills motorcyclist in Draper, Utah

Trump shares fake AI-generated image of Kamala Harris at communist event

Paris taxi company G7 suspends Tesla Model 3 after fatal crash

AI-generated deepfake of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt causes alarm in Hollywood

Fake Blake Shelton Le Creuset Giveaway Scam Uses AI Deepfakes to Steal Money

South African magistrate cautions against blind trust in AI after ChatGPT generates fictitious case law

Springer Nature book on machine learning contains fabricated citations

Tesla on Autopilot crashes into stationary Michigan police car

Selangor police investigate AI deepfake video falsely linking former IGP to scam

Catholic Answers Defrocks AI Priest Chatbot After It Claimed to Be Real

Tesla crashes into $3.5 million jet during Smart Summon

X Users Ask Grok to Unblur Epstein File Photos of Children

Facial recognition used to steal from and kill gay men in NYC

Aurora Police blame licence plate reader for gunpoint stop of Black family

ByteDance scraped Instagram content to fuel Flipagram growth

Zhihu denies using behaviour perception system to monitor employees

X's AI bot Grok falsely accuses NBA player Klay Thompson of vandalism