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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4,760 incidentspress and self-reported

Page 137 of 199

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

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
WF-NZUJDVLive 5 Oct 2026
Wondershare's Facemega app used Emma Watson's face in suggestive deepfake ad
The face-swapping app Facemega, owned by Chinese company Wondershare, promoted a sexually suggestive advertisement featuring the face of actor Emma Watson without her consent. The ad, which showed a woman with Watson's face in a provocative pose, ran on Facebook until it was removed following media coverage. Apple and Google also removed the app from their stores for policy violations. An attorney commented that such deepfake technology could be used as a weapon against women, highlighting the potential for reputational and privacy harms.
Company
Wondershare
AI system
Facemega
5 source articlesinsider.com
WF-P25C8QHappened 16 Feb 2023Live 5 Oct 2026
Tesla Recalls 360,000 Vehicles with Full Self-Driving Beta Over Crash Risk
Tesla is recalling more than 360,000 vehicles equipped with its Full Self-Driving Beta software after a government regulator found that the cars could proceed through intersections without stopping, posing a crash risk. The company said it would issue a remote software update to remedy the problem. The recall is a significant setback for Tesla's autonomous driving ambitions.
Company
Tesla
AI system
Full Self-Driving Beta
10 source articleswashingtonpost.com
WF-P26UH9Live 5 Oct 2026
AI Deepfakes Impersonate Doctors to Spread Health Misinformation on Social Media
AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating real doctors have been spreading health misinformation and selling unproven supplements on social media. Factcheckers uncovered hundreds of manipulated videos using altered footage of respected health experts. The delayed removal of this content highlights challenges in detection and accountability. Public health communicators are urged to address false credibility and guide audiences toward evidence-based information.
2 source articlesnphic.org
WF-NXUGXNHappened 1 Oct 2025Live 5 Oct 2026
Criminal Group Used Deepfakes of Gisele Bündchen in Million-Dollar Scam
A criminal group in Brazil used AI-generated deepfake videos of model Gisele Bündchen and other celebrities to promote non-existent products, defrauding victims of over R$20 million. The scheme tricked people into paying shipping fees for fake 'anti-wrinkle kits' and other items. Police launched Operation 'Modo Selva', arresting four people and freezing up to R$210 million in assets. The leader allegedly ran a 'digital crime university' teaching others how to commit online fraud.
2 source articlescnnbrasil.com.br
WF-NYYMV5Happened 1 Sep 2023Live 5 Oct 2026
Peppermill Casino Facial Recognition Misidentification Leads to Wrongful Arrest
A long-haul truck driver was misidentified by the Peppermill Casino's facial recognition system as a banned individual, leading to his detention by security and arrest by Reno police. The system produced a 100% match, but fingerprints later confirmed his innocence. The driver sued the casino, which settled, and is now suing the arresting officer for fabricating evidence and malicious prosecution.
Company
Peppermill Casino
1 source articlecasino.org
WF-NZKCLMLive 5 Oct 2026
Westbrook Police Apologise for AI-Altered Evidence Photo
The Westbrook Police Department in Maine inadvertently shared an AI-altered photo of drug evidence on social media. An officer used a photo editing app to add the department's patch, but the app also altered the packaging and other details. The department initially denied AI involvement before confirming the use of ChatGPT and issued a public apology, inviting media to inspect the original evidence.
Company
Westbrook Police Department
1 source articleboston.com
WF-NV6TYGLive 5 Oct 2026
Twitter admits algorithm amplifies rightwing politicians and news outlets
Twitter's internal research found that its Home timeline algorithm amplifies tweets from rightwing politicians and news outlets more than those from leftwing sources in six out of seven countries studied. The company acknowledged the findings could be problematic and said further root cause analysis is required. The bias was not found in Germany. Twitter plans to make its research available to third parties and is preparing to allow wider access to its data.
Company
Twitter
3 source articlestheguardian.com
WF-NWU83BHappened 1 Jun 2014Live 5 Oct 2026
Home Office ruined thousands of lives over flawed ETS cheating evidence
A BBC investigation reveals the UK Home Office deported over 2,500 people and forced 7,200 more to leave based on flawed cheating allegations from ETS's Toeic English test. Despite knowing of serious concerns about ETS's conduct and data reliability, the Home Office continued enforcement. Many innocent people faced years of hardship, with some later proving their innocence through test recordings.
Company
Home Office
AI system
Toeic
1 source articlebbc.com
WF-NUW3U3Happened 1 Jan 2021Live 5 Oct 2026
Honolulu Police Use Robot Dog to Scan Homeless People for COVID-19
The Honolulu Police Department deployed a Boston Dynamics Spot robot to scan body temperatures of homeless residents at a state-run tent city as a COVID-19 safety measure. Civil rights advocates criticised the practice as dehumanising and invasive. The police defended the robot's use, stating it protected officers and shelter staff. The incident sparked debate over police use of robotic technology.
Company
Honolulu Police Department
AI system
Spot
4 source articleseuronews.com
WF-NUN7GHLive 5 Oct 2026
Former Nashville meteorologist Bree Smith victim of AI deepfake porn sextortion
Bree Smith, a former meteorologist for NewsChannel 5 in Nashville, discovered that her face had been used in AI-generated deepfake pornographic videos. The videos, which also mimicked her voice, were shared on fake social media accounts and used to scam her followers out of money. Smith reported the accounts to social media platforms and the police, but no action was taken. She later testified before the Tennessee legislature, which passed the Preventing Deepfake Images Act to criminalise such non-consensual intimate digital depictions.
10 source articlesdailymail.co.uk
WF-NVDFZUHappened 1 Mar 2026Live 5 Oct 2026
Serve Robotics apologises after delivery robot smashes Chicago bus shelter
A Serve Robotics food delivery robot crashed into a bus shelter on Grand Avenue in West Town, Chicago, in late March 2026, shattering the glass. The company paid for immediate repairs and has now placed an apology advertisement at the same bus shelter. The incident contributed to renewed safety concerns regarding the city's robot delivery pilot programme.
Company
Serve Robotics
AI system
Serve Robotics delivery robot
1 source articleblockclubchicago.org
WF-NS9SNCHappened 23 Mar 2023Live 5 Oct 2026
Deepfake scams impersonate relatives in video calls to steal money in Vietnam
In March 2023, scammers used deepfake technology to create fake video calls impersonating relatives of victims in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. One victim lost nearly 100 million VND after a video call that appeared to show his relative asking for a loan. Another victim lost 150 million VND in a similar scam. Police have received multiple reports and are investigating, warning that deepfake-enabled fraud is proliferating.
2 source articlesdttc.sggp.org.vn
WF-NUSTHLLive 5 Oct 2026
Morgan & Morgan lawyers cite fictional cases generated by AI chatbot
Lawyers at Morgan & Morgan filed a legal brief in a case against Walmart that cited nine cases, eight of which were entirely fictional. The firm admitted that an AI chatbot had generated the non-existent cases. Morgan & Morgan apologised for the error.
Company
Morgan & Morgan
10 source articlesorlandosentinel.com
WF-NT9FBJLive 5 Oct 2026
Fake AI-Generated Louvre Heist Videos Circulate Online
After a jewel heist at the Louvre Museum, multiple AI-generated videos claiming to be CCTV footage of the robbery surfaced on social media. The videos, created using OpenAI's Sora 2, depicted different versions of the burglars and their methods. They were shared widely, misleading viewers into believing they were real. The incident highlights the potential for AI-generated misinformation.
AI system
Sora 2
2 source articlesyoutu.be
WF-NRVQLJLive 5 Oct 2026
Prozenith used AI deepfake of Oprah to sell turmeric supplements
A Utah woman says she paid more than $400 for Prozenith supplements after seeing videos that appeared to show Oprah Winfrey endorsing them, but the product was mostly turmeric. The endorsements are alleged to be AI deepfakes, and Winfrey has said she has nothing to do with weight-loss pills. KSL TV contacted Prozenith but received no response; the woman was told she could return the product.
Company
Prozenith
2 source articlesksltv.com
WF-NT4P2RLive 5 Oct 2026
Scammers use AI deepfakes on TikTok to sell wellness products
Media Matters found numerous TikTok accounts using AI-generated deepfake influencers and fabricated storytimes to deceive users into purchasing wellness products. The accounts, part of an affiliated network, used fake personas and testimonials to promote items like batana oil and supplements. The scam preys on users' health concerns, including fertility issues. All identified accounts have been removed from TikTok since publication.
1 source articlemediamatters.org
WF-NN92D9Happened 19 Jan 2018Live 5 Oct 2026
Tesla Driver Passed Out Drunk on Bay Bridge Claims Autopilot Was in Control
On 19 January 2018, a Tesla driver was found passed out behind the wheel on the San Francisco Bay Bridge with a blood alcohol content over twice the legal limit. The driver told California Highway Patrol officers that the vehicle had been set on Autopilot. The driver was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, and the car was towed. No accident or injuries occurred, and Tesla did not confirm whether Autopilot was engaged.
Company
Tesla
AI system
Autopilot
10 source articlesfortune.com
WF-NKPD9RLive 5 Oct 2026
Claude Code deletes developer's production database and snapshots
Alexey Grigorev used Claude Code to manage infrastructure with Terraform for his websites AI Shipping Labs and DataTalks.Club. Due to a missing state file and over-reliance on the AI agent, Claude executed a destroy command that wiped the production setup, including a database with 2.5 years of records and snapshots. Amazon Business support helped restore the data within a day. Grigorev is now implementing safeguards to prevent recurrence.
Company
AI Shipping Labs
AI system
Claude Code
2 source articlestomshardware.com
WF-NJX5PWHappened 24 Jul 2026Live 5 Oct 2026
Truck drivers sue Motive over AI dash cam mass surveillance
Truck drivers Adam Dean and Christian Erickson filed a class action lawsuit against Motive Technologies Inc., alleging that the company's AI-powered dash cams with automatic license plate readers collected license plate data and tracked drivers' movements without consent. The lawsuit, filed in California federal court, claims violations of California's ALPR Law and seeks damages of $2,500 per class member. The drivers allege privacy invasion and emotional distress from the surreptitious surveillance.
Company
Motive Technologies Inc.
1 source articlecdllife.com
WF-NPLCSWHappened 6 May 2021Live 5 Oct 2026
California vaccine equity algorithm may exclude 2 million vulnerable residents
An ACLU of Northern California analysis alleges that California's Department of Public Health used an algorithm, built by Blue Shield, that allocates additional COVID-19 vaccine supply based on ZIP codes rather than census tracts. The analysis found that this approach could leave over 2 million people living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, disproportionately communities of colour, without prioritised access to the vaccine. The ACLU called on the state to review the affected areas and explain how it will ensure these residents are not left behind.
Company
California Department of Public Health
AI system
Healthy Places Index
1 source articleaclunc.org
WF-NHDF7BLive 5 Oct 2026
Michigan woman deceived by deepfake romance scam on Tinder
Beth Hyland, a Michigan administrative assistant, was manipulated by a scammer on Tinder who used deepfake video on Skype calls to pose as a French man named 'Richard'. The scammer used AI-generated deepfakes to appear real, making the deception difficult to detect. The incident is part of a growing trend of romance scams using deepfakes, with millions projected worldwide.
7 source articlesjapantimes.co.jp

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

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

Wondershare's Facemega app used Emma Watson's face in suggestive deepfake ad

Tesla Recalls 360,000 Vehicles with Full Self-Driving Beta Over Crash Risk

AI Deepfakes Impersonate Doctors to Spread Health Misinformation on Social Media

Criminal Group Used Deepfakes of Gisele Bündchen in Million-Dollar Scam

Peppermill Casino Facial Recognition Misidentification Leads to Wrongful Arrest

Westbrook Police Apologise for AI-Altered Evidence Photo

Twitter admits algorithm amplifies rightwing politicians and news outlets

Home Office ruined thousands of lives over flawed ETS cheating evidence

Honolulu Police Use Robot Dog to Scan Homeless People for COVID-19

Former Nashville meteorologist Bree Smith victim of AI deepfake porn sextortion

Serve Robotics apologises after delivery robot smashes Chicago bus shelter

Deepfake scams impersonate relatives in video calls to steal money in Vietnam

Morgan & Morgan lawyers cite fictional cases generated by AI chatbot

Fake AI-Generated Louvre Heist Videos Circulate Online

Prozenith used AI deepfake of Oprah to sell turmeric supplements

Scammers use AI deepfakes on TikTok to sell wellness products

Tesla Driver Passed Out Drunk on Bay Bridge Claims Autopilot Was in Control

Claude Code deletes developer's production database and snapshots

Truck drivers sue Motive over AI dash cam mass surveillance

California vaccine equity algorithm may exclude 2 million vulnerable residents

Michigan woman deceived by deepfake romance scam on Tinder