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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4,751 incidentspress and self-reported

Page 132 of 198

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

WF-SK5ATNHappened 15 Jun 2026Live 5 Oct 2026
Kannada actor Doddanna files complaint over AI-generated fake death post
Kannada actor Doddanna S, 77, filed a cyber complaint after unidentified individuals used AI tools to create and circulate a fake Facebook post declaring him dead. The post caused confusion among his fans and well-wishers, and Doddanna stated it caused him severe embarrassment, emotional trauma, and reputational damage. The North Cyber Crime police in Bengaluru registered a case under the Information Technology Act and are attempting to trace the perpetrators.
1 source articletimesofindia.indiatimes.com
WF-SJNJWTLive 5 Oct 2026
INSS AI Denies Rural Worker's Pension After Misidentifying Her as a Man
A rural worker in Brazil, Josélia de Brito, had her pension application through the Meu INSS app automatically denied after the AI system misidentified her as a man. The INSS deployed the system to speed up benefit decisions, but experts say it struggles with complex rural cases. The case is cited as evidence that automation may exclude vulnerable people with limited digital access.
Company
Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social (INSS)
AI system
Meu INSS
4 source articlessmarttrendstech.com
WF-SHVG6XHappened 3 Jul 2018Live 5 Oct 2026
Facebook Flags Declaration of Independence as Hate Speech
In July 2018, Facebook's automated hate speech detection system removed a post by The Vindicator, a Texas newspaper, that contained excerpts from the Declaration of Independence. The system mistakenly flagged the phrase 'Indian Savages' as hate speech. After the newspaper notified Facebook, the company restored the post and apologised, attributing the error to the challenges of moderating content at scale.
Company
Facebook
1 source articlebusinessinsider.com
WF-SESTDUHappened 1 Dec 2016Live 5 Oct 2026
Uber's Self-Driving Cars Ran Red Lights in San Francisco, Internal Documents Reveal
In late 2016, Uber's autonomous vehicles were recorded running red lights during a pilot program in San Francisco, endangering bicyclists. Uber publicly blamed human error and suspended a driver, but internal documents and employee statements indicated the cars were in autonomous mode at the time. The company declined to apply for a state testing permit, which would have required disengagement reports, and subsequently moved its self-driving operations to Arizona.
Company
Uber
9 source articlesthedrive.com
WF-SGJCG7Live 5 Oct 2026
Sports Illustrated removes AI-generated articles after report
Sports Illustrated removed several web articles after a report by Futurism alleged they were generated by artificial intelligence and published under fake author names with AI-generated headshots. The publisher, Arena Group, licensed the content from third-party company Advon Commerce, which claimed the articles were written by humans using pseudonyms. The Sports Illustrated Union condemned the practices, and Arena Group launched an internal investigation, ending its partnership with Advon Commerce. The incident highlights growing concerns about AI-generated content in journalism.
Company
Sports Illustrated
10 source articlesbbc.com
WF-SE5ZJPHappened 1 Aug 2024Live 5 Oct 2026
Microsoft Copilot Exposes Private GitHub Repositories via Bing Cache
In August 2024, Lasso Security researchers discovered that Microsoft Copilot could access and expose data from private GitHub repositories that had been briefly public, due to Bing's caching mechanism. The vulnerability allowed anyone to retrieve sensitive information, including secrets and tokens, from over 20,000 repositories affecting more than 16,000 organisations. Microsoft acknowledged the issue but classified it as low severity, removing the public cached link feature while Copilot retained access to the cached data. The researchers alerted affected organisations and advised them to rotate compromised keys.
Company
Microsoft
AI system
Microsoft Copilot
2 source articleslasso.security
WF-SBRTW5Live 5 Oct 2026
Sophie Rottenberg used ChatGPT as therapist before taking her own life
Sophie Rottenberg, 29, used ChatGPT as a therapist, divulging more to the chatbot than to her real counsellor. The bot called her brave. She did not tell her parents or counsellor the true extent of her struggle, and later took her own life.
AI system
ChatGPT
2 source articlesthetimes.com
WF-SBHYJLHappened 21 Aug 2024Live 5 Oct 2026
Lionsgate Drops Marketing Consultant After AI-Generated Fake Critic Quotes in Megalopolis Trailer
Lionsgate parted ways with marketing consultant Eddie Egan after it was discovered that the trailer for Francis Ford Coppola's 'Megalopolis' contained fabricated negative quotes from famous film critics. The quotes, which were generated using AI, falsely attributed criticism to critics like Pauline Kael. The studio pulled the trailer and apologised for the error, acknowledging a failure in their vetting process.
Company
Lionsgate
AI system
ChatGPT
1 source articlevariety.com
WF-SAPMKXLive 5 Oct 2026
Northeast Ohio man scammed out of $20,000 by deepfake Elton John video
A 71-year-old man in Northeast Ohio was scammed out of $20,000 after watching a deepfake video of Elton John on Instagram that falsely promised easy money through an online store. He was guided by two individuals posing as company representatives to open bank accounts and credit cards, which they then used to charge his cards. The victim, who was working part-time and seeking extra income, is now in debt and has returned to full-time work. One credit card company has credited $9,400, and he is working to recover the remaining funds.
1 source articlenews5cleveland.com
WF-SAER6EHappened 4 Jul 2026Live 5 Oct 2026
Waymo vehicle catches fire after driving over firework in San Francisco
On 4 July 2026, an unoccupied Waymo robotaxi caught fire in San Francisco after driving over a lit firework. No injuries were reported. The incident occurred amid widespread traffic congestion, with multiple Waymo vehicles becoming disabled and blocking roads. Waymo coordinated with the fire department to remove the vehicle and said it was evaluating ways to improve resilience during major disruptions.
Company
Waymo
AI system
Waymo
1 source articlesfchronicle.com
WF-S8ELFHHappened 1 Jul 2016Live 5 Oct 2026
Pokemon Go Accused of Racism Over Poke Stop Disparity in Minority Neighborhoods
In 2016, Pokemon Go player Aura Bogado noticed fewer Poke Stops in her predominantly Latino Los Angeles neighborhood compared to whiter areas. Data from the Urban Institute confirmed an average of 55 stops in majority-white neighborhoods versus 19 in majority-black ones. The disparity was attributed to Niantic's use of crowd-sourced locations from its previous game Ingress, whose user base was mostly white and male. Niantic stated it would address the issue after the game's worldwide launch.
Company
Niantic
AI system
Pokemon Go
8 source articlesdailymail.co.uk
WF-S6E3HWHappened 18 Jan 2018Live 5 Oct 2026
Natural Cycles app investigated after 37 unwanted pregnancies
Thirty-seven women in Sweden reported becoming pregnant while using the Natural Cycles contraceptive app, leading Södersjukhuset hospital to report the cases to the Swedish Medical Products Agency, which has launched an investigation. The app uses an algorithm to designate 'red' and 'green' days for abstaining from or having unprotected sex, but its effectiveness depends on users adhering to its daily temperature measurements and behavioural recommendations. The company's co-founder stated he was not surprised by the reports, acknowledging the app is not 100% effective, and a clinical study found over half of the women who became pregnant had had unprotected sex on days the app advised against it.
Company
Natural Cycles
AI system
Natural Cycles
3 source articlesbusinessinsider.com
WF-S3SV4EHappened 1 Jul 2019Live 5 Oct 2026
Amazon's algorithm recommended suicide aids alongside a lethal preservative
Amazon sold a food preservative that people were using to die by suicide. The company's algorithm began suggesting other products that customers frequently bought along with it to aid in such efforts. Despite pleas from grieving families and explicit warnings in product reviews, Amazon declined to act. Members of Congress have now demanded answers from Amazon's CEO.
Company
Amazon
2 source articlesnytimes.com
WF-S2AEBRHappened 1 Nov 2021Live 5 Oct 2026
Tesla's Full Self-Driving beta includes assertive mode that may perform rolling stops
Tesla's Full Self-Driving beta software includes driving profiles, including an 'Assertive' mode that may perform rolling stops, follow cars more closely, and change lanes more frequently. The feature was included in an October 2021 update that was briefly pulled due to issues with left turns. In November 2021, a Tesla using FSD mode was involved in a crash that left the vehicle severely damaged.
Company
Tesla
AI system
Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta
5 source articlestheverge.com
WF-S5GF7RHappened 1 Jun 2026Live 5 Oct 2026
Guardia Civil identifies creators of AI nudes affecting 22 women in Pontevedra
Two men in Pontevedra, Spain, have been identified by the Guardia Civil for allegedly creating and disseminating AI-generated nude images of 22 women without their consent. The images were produced using artificial intelligence applications from photographs taken from the victims' social media profiles. The case has been referred to the Tribunal de Instancia de Lalín, with one man accused of creating the material and the other of distributing it, facing charges of a crime against moral integrity.
3 source articlesinfobae.com
WF-S8RZN2Live 5 Oct 2026
Gannett pauses AI-written sports articles after botched results
Gannett, a major US newspaper publisher, used an AI tool called LedeAI to generate high school sports articles for its local papers. The articles contained errors and awkward phrasing, leading to reader complaints. Gannett paused the experiment and acknowledged the issues.
Company
Gannett
AI system
LedeAI
1 source articlecnn.com
WF-S55YB9Live 5 Oct 2026
AI scientist blasted for whitewashing Black Little Mermaid actress
An AI scientist used artificial intelligence to digitally alter the trailer for Disney's 'The Little Mermaid,' replacing Black actress Halle Bailey with a white-appearing woman. The altered video was posted on Twitter, sparking accusations of racism, and the accounts of the scientist and the promoter were suspended. The incident occurred amid backlash against the film's trailer, which had received 1.5 million dislikes, and the alteration was condemned as whitewashing.
1 source articlenypost.com
WF-RYWSQPLive 5 Oct 2026
UK government using AI for benefits and immigration decisions
The UK government is reportedly using artificial intelligence to make decisions on welfare benefits and immigration applications. The system automates decisions previously made by human caseworkers. Concerns have been raised about the fairness and transparency of such automated decisions.
10 source articlesthetimes.co.uk
WF-RZAFQ6Happened 9 May 2026Live 5 Oct 2026
Waymo rider trapped in robotaxi during vandalism attack in San Francisco
In May 2026, Sherman Watson was riding in a Waymo robotaxi in San Francisco when two men attacked the vehicle, smashing the windshield. The car stopped and remained stationary, trapping Watson inside for about 10 minutes while he feared for his life. Waymo's remote assistant called police but could not move the car. Watson later sought therapy and requested video footage from Waymo, which the company has not provided, citing the need for a police search warrant.
Company
Waymo
AI system
Waymo robotaxi
1 source articlesfchronicle.com
WF-RX5YBZHappened 20 Mar 2023Live 5 Oct 2026
OpenAI's ChatGPT shut down after bug exposed user chat titles
On Monday, March 20, 2023, OpenAI's ChatGPT experienced an outage due to a bug that exposed titles of users' chat histories to other users. The bug, caused by an issue in open-source software, did not reveal conversation details. OpenAI temporarily disabled the service and later restored it, though chat history remained unavailable. The company acknowledged the incident and is working to restore past conversations.
Company
OpenAI
AI system
ChatGPT
2 source articlesmashable.com
WF-RWQSLGLive 5 Oct 2026
Tesla Employee Dies in Full Self-Driving Crash in Colorado Mountains
Hans von Ohain, a Tesla recruiter, died when his Model 3 crashed into a tree and caught fire while using Tesla's Full Self-Driving feature on a mountain road in Colorado. His widow, Nora Bass, criticised Tesla for lack of response, saying they were treated like 'guinea pigs'. Investigators noted that Ohain's blood alcohol was over three times the legal limit, but the crash did not show typical signs of drunk driving, suggesting the driver-assistance feature was active. Tesla has not commented on the incident.
Company
Tesla
AI system
Full Self-Driving
10 source articleswonderfulengineering.com
WF-RU8B2VHappened 17 Apr 2021Live 5 Oct 2026
Two Men Killed in Tesla Crash with No Driver at Wheel
On April 17, 2021, a 2019 Tesla Model S crashed into a tree and caught fire in Spring, Texas, killing the two occupants. Authorities believe no one was behind the wheel at the time, and witnesses said the men were discussing Autopilot's self-driving capabilities before the drive. Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated that data logs indicate Autopilot was not enabled, but investigations by NHTSA and NTSB are ongoing. The incident highlights the gap between Tesla's marketing of its driver-assistance features and their actual capabilities.
Company
Tesla
AI system
Autopilot
9 source articleswired.com
WF-RMG9SSHappened 1 Jan 2022Live 5 Oct 2026
Jordan's National Aid Fund Algorithm Denies Cash Assistance to Vulnerable Households
Human Rights Watch reported that Jordan’s Takaful cash transfer programme, run by the National Aid Fund and financed by the World Bank, uses an algorithm to rank households by estimated economic vulnerability and select recipients. The report found that the algorithm relies on inaccurate self-reported income and questionable indicators such as car ownership and utility use, causing eligible poor families to be denied benefits or receive reduced payments. The World Bank and NAF defended the programme and its targeting approach.
Company
National Aid Fund (NAF)
AI system
Takaful (Unified Cash Transfer Program)
3 source articleshrw.org
WF-RQ948SLive 5 Oct 2026
Optometrist Dr. Joseph Allen targeted by AI deepfake scam selling bogus eyedrops
Dr. Joseph Allen, an optometrist and YouTuber, discovered AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating him to spread false health information and sell bogus myopia-reversing eyedrops. The deepfakes, which appeared on platforms like TikTok, told viewers not to see eye care providers and claimed the profession was a scam. Dr. Allen, with legal counsel, contacted TikTok and had an account deplatformed, but the scammers quickly reuploaded the content. The product was traced to a Chinese company selling millions of dollars on Amazon, and the incident highlights the challenge of combating AI-generated misinformation.
2 source articlesvisionmonday.com

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

Kannada actor Doddanna files complaint over AI-generated fake death post

INSS AI Denies Rural Worker's Pension After Misidentifying Her as a Man

Facebook Flags Declaration of Independence as Hate Speech

Uber's Self-Driving Cars Ran Red Lights in San Francisco, Internal Documents Reveal

Sports Illustrated removes AI-generated articles after report

Microsoft Copilot Exposes Private GitHub Repositories via Bing Cache

Sophie Rottenberg used ChatGPT as therapist before taking her own life

Lionsgate Drops Marketing Consultant After AI-Generated Fake Critic Quotes in Megalopolis Trailer

Northeast Ohio man scammed out of $20,000 by deepfake Elton John video

Waymo vehicle catches fire after driving over firework in San Francisco

Pokemon Go Accused of Racism Over Poke Stop Disparity in Minority Neighborhoods

Natural Cycles app investigated after 37 unwanted pregnancies

Amazon's algorithm recommended suicide aids alongside a lethal preservative

Tesla's Full Self-Driving beta includes assertive mode that may perform rolling stops

Guardia Civil identifies creators of AI nudes affecting 22 women in Pontevedra

Gannett pauses AI-written sports articles after botched results

AI scientist blasted for whitewashing Black Little Mermaid actress

UK government using AI for benefits and immigration decisions

Waymo rider trapped in robotaxi during vandalism attack in San Francisco

OpenAI's ChatGPT shut down after bug exposed user chat titles

Tesla Employee Dies in Full Self-Driving Crash in Colorado Mountains

Two Men Killed in Tesla Crash with No Driver at Wheel

Jordan's National Aid Fund Algorithm Denies Cash Assistance to Vulnerable Households

Optometrist Dr. Joseph Allen targeted by AI deepfake scam selling bogus eyedrops