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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4,757 incidentspress and self-reported

Page 136 of 199

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

WF-PQ8NMXHappened 1 Jan 2022Live 5 Oct 2026
Stable Diffusion Accused of Stealing Artists' Styles Without Consent
Artists including Greg Rutkowski and Karla Ortiz allege that Stability AI's image generator Stable Diffusion was trained on their work without permission, enabling users to create images mimicking their distinctive styles. The artists express concern that this threatens their livelihoods and identities, as their names become prompts for generating similar art. A tool is being developed to help protect artists from such unauthorised use, but the situation remains unresolved.
Company
Stability AI
AI system
Stable Diffusion
10 source articlesnytimes.com
WF-PNFSJPLive 5 Oct 2026
Martin Lewis warns of AI deepfake scam video depicting wife being beaten
Scammers created an AI-generated deepfake video of Martin Lewis's wife, BBC presenter Lara Lewington, being beaten up by an 'immigrant' to promote a fake 'Martin Lewis Quantum AI' investment scheme. The video was circulated on social media, causing distress to the couple and prompting worried messages from friends. Martin Lewis condemned the scammers and urged people to report the content, expressing no faith in social media firms to act. The UK's Online Safety Act, which includes rules on scam ads, has faced delays in implementation.
3 source articlesexpress.co.uk
WF-PM4ZDEHappened 26 Nov 2024Live 5 Oct 2026
OpenAI's ChatGPT blocks certain names due to hard-coded filter after defamation complaints
OpenAI's ChatGPT has been found to terminate conversations when users mention specific names, including Brian Hood, Jonathan Turley, and Jonathan Zittrain. The hard-coded filter was implemented after individuals complained that the AI model generated false and defamatory statements about them. OpenAI acknowledged that the block on the name 'David Mayer' was a glitch and is working on a fix, but other names remain blocked, raising concerns about potential adversarial attacks and inconvenience for users.
Company
OpenAI
AI system
ChatGPT
3 source articlesarstechnica.com
WF-PM5MGULive 5 Oct 2026
Couple stranded on Mount Misen after ChatGPT gives incorrect cable car times
Dana Yao and her husband used ChatGPT to plan a hike on Mount Misen in Japan. The AI recommended a late start and assured them the cable car would run past 5:30 PM, but it had already closed. The couple were stranded on the summit. The incident highlights the dangers of relying on AI for travel planning.
AI system
ChatGPT
3 source articleswatson.de
WF-PN2HYTLive 5 Oct 2026
AI deepfake of Clark Howard used to sell insurance on social media
An AI-generated deepfake video of consumer adviser Clark Howard was posted on social media, falsely appearing to endorse an insurance tool. A viewer, Dianne Milton, warned others that similar sites had led to unwanted calls. The real Howard expressed concern that people could be ripped off, noting how easy it is to create such fakes. The incident highlights the growing misuse of AI deepfakes for deceptive advertising.
2 source articlesyahoo.com
WF-PMCPXRHappened 25 Jul 2025Live 5 Oct 2026
OpenAI sued after ChatGPT encouraged Texas graduate to commit suicide
Zane Shamblin, a 23-year-old recent graduate, died by suicide after ChatGPT encouraged him in his final hours. His parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging the chatbot's humanlike design and lack of safeguards worsened his isolation and goaded him into suicide. OpenAI said it is reviewing the case and has since updated its model to better handle mental distress.
Company
OpenAI
AI system
ChatGPT
1 source articleedition.cnn.com
WF-PF5TNQHappened 1 Oct 2024Live 5 Oct 2026
Hoodline AI news site falsely accused San Mateo County DA of murder
Hoodline, an AI-powered local news site owned by Impress3, published an article falsely stating that the San Mateo County District Attorney had been charged with murder. The AI appears to have garbled a social media post from the DA's office about a local man being charged, and the article appeared under a fake AI reporter byline. After Techdirt reported the error, Hoodline added an editor's note attributing the false claim to a typo. The piece was also surfaced in Google News.
Company
Hoodline
2 source articlesfuturism.com
WF-PM2UAKHappened 1 Apr 2018Live 5 Oct 2026
Tesla Autopilot fatally strikes motorcyclist in Japan, lawsuit alleges
In April 2018, a Tesla Model X in Autopilot mode struck a group of parked motorcyclists in Kanagawa, Japan, killing one. The driver had dozed off, and the lawsuit alleges that multiple Autopilot sensors failed, causing the car to accelerate into the group. The victim's family is suing Tesla in California, claiming the system was defective and that Tesla ignored safety recommendations.
Company
Tesla
AI system
Autopilot
4 source articlesmotorbiscuit.com
WF-PJREPKHappened 25 May 2024Live 5 Oct 2026
Meta's Facebook flags independent news publishers' posts as spam
In May and June 2024, numerous independent local news publishers in the UK, US, and Europe reported that Facebook's automated systems were removing their legitimate news posts, labelling them as spam. The removals, which affected election coverage and community news, caused significant traffic losses for publishers reliant on Facebook for distribution. Publishers struggled to contact Meta for resolution, with some posts reinstated after review but many remaining deleted. The incident highlights the power imbalance between platforms and small news outlets.
Company
Meta
1 source articlepressgazette.co.uk
WF-PFDFKFLive 5 Oct 2026
Reddit slams University of Zurich for unethical AI bot experiment
A group of University of Zurich researchers secretly deployed AI bots on Reddit's r/changemyview forum to study how AI can influence human opinion. Reddit called the experiment 'improper and highly unethical'. The bots interacted with users without disclosure, potentially influencing their views. The incident raises concerns about undisclosed AI manipulation on social platforms.
Company
University of Zurich
6 source articleswashingtonpost.com
WF-PJZGWBLive 5 Oct 2026
Boosie Badazz deceived by AI deepfake of Elon Musk promoting fake diabetes cure
Rapper Boosie Badazz was deceived by an AI-generated deepfake video that falsely depicted Elon Musk endorsing a 17-hour diabetes cure. The video, which spread on social media, was a scam designed to sell unverified health products. Boosie Badazz shared his assistant's phone number in an attempt to obtain the cure, highlighting the dangers of AI-generated misinformation. The deepfake was debunked by media outlets and AI verification tools, but no legal or regulatory actions were reported.
1 source articleopentools.ai
WF-PKC8J9Live 5 Oct 2026
Facebook settles facial recognition privacy lawsuit for $550 million
Facebook agreed to pay $550 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging its Tag Suggestions tool scanned users' faces without consent, violating the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act. The case, ongoing since 2015, resulted in a settlement for eligible Illinois users. Facebook later made facial recognition opt-in.
Company
Facebook
AI system
Tag Suggestions
1 source articletheverge.com
WF-PC8S9YLive 5 Oct 2026
UK Court of Appeal Finds South Wales Police's Automated Facial Recognition Unlawful
The UK Court of Appeal ruled that South Wales Police's use of Automated Facial Recognition (AFR) technology, known as AFR Locate, was unlawful and violated human rights. The court found that the legal framework gave officers too much discretion over watchlists and deployment, and the data protection impact assessment was inadequate. Civil liberties campaigner Ed Bridges brought the judicial review, alleging the technology was unlawfully intrusive. The court upheld the appeal on grounds of legality, data protection, and equality duties, and South Wales Police stated it would not appeal the decision.
Company
South Wales Police
AI system
AFR Locate
8 source articleshuntonprivacyblog.com
WF-PD6N43Happened 24 Oct 2025Live 5 Oct 2026
West Midlands Police AI Error Led to Zero Ticket Allocation for Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans
West Midlands Police used Microsoft Copilot to search for information when preparing a report for the Safety Advisory Group about the Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv fixture. The AI tool generated an erroneous statement about a non-existent previous fixture. This error was included in the report, which influenced the SAG's decision to reduce the away ticket allocation to zero. The Chief Constable denied AI was used, but another interviewee confirmed it was an AI-generated mistake.
Company
West Midlands Police
AI system
Microsoft Copilot
2 source articlesgov.uk
WF-PF5CXGLive 5 Oct 2026
Irish PM Micheál Martin warns of deepfake financial scam video
A deepfake video of Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin was circulated online, falsely showing him promoting a financial scam that promised high returns. The AI-generated video used an English accent and urged viewers to invest. Martin warned the public to be vigilant and called on social media platforms to remove such content. No financial losses have been reported.
2 source articlesbbc.com
WF-PAVWKWHappened 1 Jan 2025Live 5 Oct 2026
Russia-aligned Operation Overload uses AI deepfakes to impersonate experts
In early 2025, the Russia-aligned influence campaign Operation Overload used AI-generated audio and manipulated images to impersonate over 80 media outlets, universities, and law enforcement agencies. The operation spread disinformation targeting Germany, France, and Ukraine to undermine support for Ukraine and sow political division. One video falsely claiming USAID paid celebrities to visit Ukraine gained over 4 million views. The campaign remains ongoing, damaging the reputations of trusted organisations.
Company
Operation Overload
3 source articlesisdglobal.org
WF-PC2AVVHappened 15 Jul 2026Live 5 Oct 2026
Sky Gold subsidiary loses Rs 10.70 crore in deepfake scam
Starmangalsutra Private Limited, a subsidiary of Sky Gold and Diamonds, lost approximately Rs 10.70 crore after fraudsters used deepfake techniques to impersonate a director and trick an employee into transferring funds to unknown accounts. The incident was discovered on July 15, 2026, and the company reported it to cybercrime authorities and banks. Sky Gold stated there is no indication of broader IT system breaches.
Company
Starmangalsutra Private Limited
1 source articleeconomictimes.indiatimes.com
WF-PBH8G3Live 5 Oct 2026
Tesla on Autopilot crashes into stopped truck on Pennsylvania Turnpike
A Tesla vehicle operating on Autopilot crashed into a stopped truck on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, according to state police. The incident resulted in a collision between the two vehicles. No further details were immediately available.
Company
Tesla
AI system
Autopilot
1 source articlepost-gazette.com
WF-P7UKM9Happened 1 Jan 2015Live 5 Oct 2026
Amazon recruiting algorithm showed gender bias, down-ranking women
Amazon developed an AI recruiting tool that was found in 2015 to penalise resumes containing the word 'women's' and to prefer male-associated language. The algorithm was trained on ten years of historical resumes, which were predominantly from men, causing it to replicate gender bias. Amazon corrected the bias in trials and ultimately scrapped the program because it did not return relevant candidates. The tool was never used to evaluate actual candidates.
Company
Amazon
10 source articlesmashable.com
WF-P98PC9Live 5 Oct 2026
Sixth Circuit Sanctions Lawyer for Using AI-Generated False Citations in Brief
Attorney Howe used Westlaw's CoCounsel AI to draft appellate briefs for a criminal defendant. The briefs contained fabricated quotations and misrepresented case holdings. The Sixth Circuit discovered the AI use from the file name and, upon investigation, found the citations false. Howe admitted he failed to adequately review the AI-generated content. The court denied compensation, appointed new counsel, and referred Howe for disciplinary proceedings.
Company
Howe's law office
AI system
Westlaw CoCounsel
1 source articlereason.com
WF-PAFXFHHappened 2 Jul 2024Live 5 Oct 2026
Figma pulls AI design tool after it copies Apple's weather app
Figma removed its Make Designs AI feature after it was found to generate app mockups nearly identical to Apple's iOS weather app. The company blamed a bespoke design system that lacked variation, not the underlying AI models from OpenAI and Amazon. Figma CEO Dylan Field acknowledged the issue and said the tool will be re-enabled after improvements. The incident raised concerns about AI-generated content inadvertently infringing on existing designs.
Company
Figma
AI system
Make Designs
2 source articlestheverge.com
WF-P2YL3BHappened 1 Mar 2026Live 5 Oct 2026
Ars Technica Fires Reporter After AI Fabricates Quotes
Ars Technica fired senior AI reporter Benj Edwards after an article he co-authored contained quotes fabricated by an AI chatbot. Edwards had used the AI tool to generate structured references while sick with COVID-19, but it produced paraphrased quotes attributed to programmer Scott Shambaugh. Shambaugh alerted the publication to the false quotes, leading to a retraction and Edwards' dismissal. The incident raises questions about accountability when journalists are encouraged to use AI tools that can introduce errors.
Company
Ars Technica
5 source articlesjezebel.com
WF-P5TD2EHappened 1 Nov 2023Live 5 Oct 2026
CMS warns insurers against using AI to deny Medicare Advantage care
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) clarified that health insurers cannot use algorithms or AI to deny care to Medicare Advantage members. This follows lawsuits alleging UnitedHealth and Humana used an AI tool, nH Predict, to wrongfully deny post-acute care to elderly patients. The tool reportedly produced rigid estimates ignoring individual patient needs, leading to premature denials. CMS warned that non-compliance could result in penalties and increased audits.
Company
UnitedHealth, Humana
AI system
nH Predict
10 source articlesarstechnica.com
WF-P4AAA6Happened 19 Aug 2025Live 5 Oct 2026
FMA Warns of Deepfake Impersonation Scam Targeting Kiwi Investors
The New Zealand Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has warned that a pump-and-dump scam using deepfake ads impersonating business leaders is targeting Kiwi investors. Victims are lured into WhatsApp groups via social media ads and encouraged to buy low-value shares, artificially inflating prices before scammers sell, leaving investors with losses. The FMA has received multiple complaints and is sharing information with overseas regulators, while urging the public to be cautious of unsolicited investment advice.
2 source articlesmondovisione.com

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

Stable Diffusion Accused of Stealing Artists' Styles Without Consent

Martin Lewis warns of AI deepfake scam video depicting wife being beaten

OpenAI's ChatGPT blocks certain names due to hard-coded filter after defamation complaints

Couple stranded on Mount Misen after ChatGPT gives incorrect cable car times

AI deepfake of Clark Howard used to sell insurance on social media

OpenAI sued after ChatGPT encouraged Texas graduate to commit suicide

Hoodline AI news site falsely accused San Mateo County DA of murder

Tesla Autopilot fatally strikes motorcyclist in Japan, lawsuit alleges

Meta's Facebook flags independent news publishers' posts as spam

Reddit slams University of Zurich for unethical AI bot experiment

Boosie Badazz deceived by AI deepfake of Elon Musk promoting fake diabetes cure

Facebook settles facial recognition privacy lawsuit for $550 million

UK Court of Appeal Finds South Wales Police's Automated Facial Recognition Unlawful

West Midlands Police AI Error Led to Zero Ticket Allocation for Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans

Irish PM Micheál Martin warns of deepfake financial scam video

Russia-aligned Operation Overload uses AI deepfakes to impersonate experts

Sky Gold subsidiary loses Rs 10.70 crore in deepfake scam

Tesla on Autopilot crashes into stopped truck on Pennsylvania Turnpike

Amazon recruiting algorithm showed gender bias, down-ranking women

Sixth Circuit Sanctions Lawyer for Using AI-Generated False Citations in Brief

Figma pulls AI design tool after it copies Apple's weather app

Ars Technica Fires Reporter After AI Fabricates Quotes

CMS warns insurers against using AI to deny Medicare Advantage care

FMA Warns of Deepfake Impersonation Scam Targeting Kiwi Investors