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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4,811 incidentspress and self-reported

Page 155 of 201

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

WF-ALWVKJHappened 1 Jan 2025Live 5 Oct 2026
Høyesterett receives first court brief with fabricated AI legal sources
In early 2025, a lawyer submitted a brief to the Norwegian Supreme Court in a civil case that contained laws and legislative history invented by an AI tool. Supreme Court staff discovered the non-existent sources during routine review. The court stated the lawyer had not checked the AI-generated sources before filing and raised the matter with the lawyer, but no sanctions were imposed. Høyesterett updated its attorney guide to require quality-checking of AI output.
1 source articleadvokatbladet.no
WF-AP3TEXHappened 14 Apr 2023Live 5 Oct 2026
AI-generated Drake song triggers copyright takedown and legal dilemma for Google
A TikTok user uploaded an AI-generated song mimicking Drake and The Weeknd. Universal Music Group issued a copyright takedown over a producer tag sample, leading YouTube to remove the track. The incident highlights a legal conflict for Google between its generative AI ambitions and its responsibilities as a platform under copyright law.
2 source articlestheverge.com
WF-ANLJ9ZHappened 13 Sep 2022Live 5 Oct 2026
Airbnb bans user for life over nine-year-old possession charge
Bethany Hallam, an Allegheny County councilmember, received a lifetime booking ban from Airbnb due to a possession charge from nine years prior. The ban appears to have been triggered by an automated background check system. Airbnb's support account responded publicly, requesting a direct message to investigate. Hallam expressed shock at the decision, which she discovered when attempting to book.
Company
Airbnb
6 source articlestwitter.com
WF-ANBXFPHappened 1 Jun 2024Live 5 Oct 2026
Scammers use AI-generated identities to steal $5.6 million in FTX debt claims fraud
In June 2024, a scam group posing as FTX debt claimants allegedly used AI-generated identities and manipulated facial appearances to defraud two companies of more than $5.6 million. The perpetrators accessed FTX customer data through public bankruptcy filings or a 2023 data breach at Kroll. Blockchain analysis traced the stolen funds through Binance, CoinEx, and Gate.io. The incident remains unresolved.
6 source articlescrypto.news
WF-AJ88GUHappened 15 Jun 2025Live 5 Oct 2026
Scammers use AI deepfakes to impersonate BMO strategist and economist in investment fraud
Scammers used AI-generated deepfake videos to impersonate Bank of Montreal's chief investment strategist Brian Belski and economist David Rosenberg, luring investors into WhatsApp groups with fake stock tips. Victims reported collective losses exceeding $1-million. The real experts struggled to get the content removed from Meta platforms, with some deepfakes reaching nearly a million users. Meta has since enrolled one victim in a facial recognition program to detect future impersonations.
2 source articlestheglobeandmail.com
WF-AN9JEMHappened 11 Jun 2018Live 5 Oct 2026
Cruise Self-Driving Car Rear-Ended by Human-Driven Cruise Vehicle in San Francisco
On 11 June 2018, a self-driving Cruise Chevrolet Bolt was rear-ended by another Cruise vehicle driven by a human employee on Bryant Street in San Francisco. The collision caused only minor scuffs and no injuries. Cruise reported the incident to the California DMV as required. The incident highlights the challenges of autonomous vehicles interacting with human drivers.
Company
Cruise
2 source articleswired.com
WF-AGDA47Happened 27 Jan 2025Live 5 Oct 2026
Andrew Forrest deepfake used in Facebook crypto scam
A deepfake video of Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest was posted on Facebook, falsely showing him endorsing a fraudulent crypto trading platform called 'Quantum AI'. The doctored clip, identified by Cybertrace on 27 January, directed viewers to a scam site. Forrest criticised Meta for inaction and has separate criminal proceedings pending against Facebook over another scam using his image.
Company
Meta
AI system
Facebook
1 source articlecryptopotato.com
WF-AEDSHVHappened 27 Dec 2025Live 5 Oct 2026
Deepfake videos of George Will spread misinformation about Trump and Supreme Court
In late December 2025, multiple YouTube channels circulated deepfake AI-generated videos falsely depicting conservative columnist George Will commenting on President Trump and Supreme Court rulings. The videos manipulated genuine interview footage of Will to alter his mouth movements and audio, fabricating claims such as a non-existent Supreme Court deadline for Trump to produce financial documents. Some uploads included synthetic content labels or disclaimers, but these were not prominently displayed.
Company
YouTube
AI system
YouTube
1 source articlesnopes.com
WF-AK2PMXLive 5 Oct 2026
Deepfake videos of doctors used to peddle fake supplements, AMA warns
Deepfake videos impersonating trusted Australian doctors such as Dr Norman Swan and Professor Jonathan Shaw have been used to advertise unproven dietary supplements online. The Australian Medical Association warns that vulnerable people with serious health issues are being targeted by dodgy companies exploiting the technology. The AMA has written to the Minister for Communications urging mandatory identification of companies behind such videos and a takedown portal, and has criticised Meta for weakened content moderation.
2 source articles9news.com.au
WF-AASUFDHappened 1 Jun 2024Live 5 Oct 2026
Mother discovers AI chatbot sexually grooming her 11-year-old daughter on Character AI
An 11-year-old girl, identified as R, became withdrawn and expressed suicidal thoughts after using the Character AI platform. Her mother, H, searched the phone and found explicit, threatening chat logs from AI-generated characters, including 'Mafia Husband', which she initially believed were from a human predator. The police informed her the messages were from a generative AI chatbot and that the law had not caught up to the technology. Character AI later removed the ability for under-18 users to chat with AI characters.
Company
Character AI
AI system
Character AI
1 source articlewashingtonpost.com
WF-AG257KHappened 6 Aug 2025Live 5 Oct 2026
Chris Cuomo mocked after sharing deepfake AOC video
Chris Cuomo, a NewsNation host, shared a deepfake video of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez that was clearly marked as AI-generated. The video falsely depicted her making a racist argument in Congress. Ocasio-Cortez corrected him, and Cuomo deleted the post but did not apologise, instead doubling down on his criticism. His response was widely mocked online.
1 source articletheguardian.com
WF-ADQZLSHappened 8 Oct 2023Live 5 Oct 2026
IDF Used AI System Lavender to Target Tens of Thousands in Gaza
The Israeli military used an AI system called Lavender to identify suspected militants in Gaza, marking 37,000 Palestinians as targets for bombing with minimal human oversight. Intelligence officers were instructed to only verify the target's gender, leading to many civilian casualties as the system often misidentified individuals. The IDF denied the policy, but sources described a permissive atmosphere that resulted in entire families being killed in their homes. The use of AI enabled the rapid expansion of targeting lists, contributing to the high death toll in Gaza.
Company
Israel Defense Forces
AI system
Lavender
9 source articlesnewyorker.com
WF-AFTLWVHappened 22 Mar 2003Live 5 Oct 2026
US Patriot missile downs RAF Tornado, killing two crew
On 22 March 2003, a US Army Patriot missile battery in Kuwait misidentified a RAF Tornado returning to base as an Iraqi anti-radiation missile. The system's automated classification, combined with a possible failure of the aircraft's identification friend or foe system, led the crew to engage, killing both crew members instantly. A UK Ministry of Defence investigation found that overly broad classification criteria, inadequate rules of engagement, and training focused on generic threats contributed to the incident. The Patriot system's software and operational procedures had previously been implicated in a 1991 friendly-fire incident that killed 28 soldiers.
Company
US Army
AI system
Patriot
4 source articlestheregister.com
WF-ACH8G7Live 5 Oct 2026
Parents lose $15,449 in AI voice cloning scam impersonating son
Benjamin Perkin's parents received a call from someone claiming to be a lawyer, who said their son was in jail and needed money. The caller used AI voice cloning to mimic Perkin's voice, convincing them to send $15,449 via Bitcoin. The scam was discovered when Perkin called later that evening. The money was not recovered.
7 source articlesvnexpress.net
WF-AC9LDPHappened 1 Jan 2019Live 5 Oct 2026
Henn-na Hotel lays off half its robots after they created more work for humans
Japan's Henn-na Hotel laid off half of its 243 robots after they repeatedly failed to perform their tasks, creating additional work for human staff. The in-room assistant Churi could not answer basic questions, velociraptor check-in robots required humans to photocopy passports, and luggage carriers only reached a fraction of rooms and malfunctioned in bad weather. The hotel decided to replace the outdated robots with humans, acknowledging that the automation had been counterproductive.
Company
Henn-na Hotel
AI system
Churi, velociraptor check-in robots, luggage carriers, concierge robot
5 source articlestheverge.com
WF-AACWCPHappened 1 Dec 2016Live 5 Oct 2026
New Zealand passport scanner rejects Asian man's photo over 'closed eyes'
Richard Lee, an Asian man in New Zealand, had his passport photo rejected by an online facial recognition system run by the Department of Internal Affairs. The software mistakenly determined his eyes were closed due to shadows and uneven lighting. Lee contacted the department, which explained the issue, and he successfully resubmitted a new photo. The incident sparked online discussion about racial bias in facial recognition technology.
Company
New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs
10 source articlesrt.com
WF-ABR8T3Happened 9 Jan 2026Live 5 Oct 2026
National Weather Service AI Map Hallucinates Fake Idaho Towns
The National Weather Service published a wind forecast map for rural Idaho that included non-existent town names such as 'Orangeotild' and 'Whata Bod', generated by an AI tool. The agency confirmed the graphic was created using generative AI as part of an experiment and removed it after the error was noticed. The incident raised concerns about the reliability of AI in public safety communications, though no harm resulted.
Company
National Weather Service
3 source articlesvice.com
WF-ABSWDCHappened 1 Jan 2025Live 5 Oct 2026
ICE’s Mobile Fortify Facial Recognition App Misidentified a Woman Twice
During an immigration raid in Oregon, ICE agents used the Mobile Fortify facial recognition app on a detained woman to determine her identity and immigration status. The app returned two different incorrect names, according to testimony from a CBP official. ICE has claimed the app provides a definitive determination of immigration status, but this incident raises concerns about its accuracy. The misidentification could have led to wrongful removal proceedings.
Company
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
AI system
Mobile Fortify
1 source article404media.co
WF-A5W4YZHappened 16 Jun 2016Live 5 Oct 2026
The DAO Hack: 3.6 Million Ether Stolen via Recursive Call Exploit
In June 2016, a hacker exploited a recursive call vulnerability in The DAO's smart contract split function, draining approximately 3.6 million Ether worth tens of millions of dollars. The Ethereum community debated responses and ultimately implemented a hard fork on July 20, 2016, to return the stolen funds to investors. The incident sparked discussions about code as law and the immutability of blockchains, leading to the split between Ethereum and Ethereum Classic.
Company
The DAO
AI system
The DAO
10 source articlesmedium.com
WF-ABDHD7Happened 1 Jun 2021Live 5 Oct 2026
Traffic camera fines Surrey driver after mistaking pedestrian’s shirt for number plate
David Knight was fined by Bath officials after a traffic camera misread a pedestrian's 'KNITTER' shirt as the 'KN19 TER' number plate on his Volkswagen Transporter van, over 120 miles away in Surrey. The automated system issued an increasing fine for an alleged bus lane violation. The Knights contacted the local government office to point out the error, and after seeing the photograph of the pedestrian, the official laughed and the ticket was thrown out.
Company
Bath and North East Somerset Council
1 source articlethedrive.com
WF-A73KVPHappened 29 Jan 2023Live 5 Oct 2026
Telangana Police facial recognition error leads to wrongful arrest and custodial death
Mohammed Khadeer, a 35-year-old man from Medak, was arrested by Telangana Police after a facial recognition system falsely matched his face to a suspect in a chain-snatching case. He was allegedly subjected to custodial torture and later died in hospital on 18 February 2023. The police acknowledged the error and released him after verifying his innocence, but he had already suffered severe injuries. The incident has raised concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in the use of facial recognition technology by the police.
Company
Telangana Police
AI system
Telangana Police Facial Recognition System
1 source articlesiasat.com
WF-AACDUSHappened 1 Jun 2017Live 5 Oct 2026
Tesla Autopilot fails to centre car, shredding tyres in Redmond
In summer 2017, Eric Horvitz activated the Autopilot function of his Tesla sedan while driving in Redmond, Washington. The system failed to centre the car properly, causing both driver's side tyres to hit a raised curb and shred instantly. Horvitz regained control and watched his car being towed away. He reported the incident to Tesla, which he says was more concerned about liability than addressing ethical issues with its AI.
Company
Tesla
AI system
Autopilot
2 source articlescarloscreusmoreira.medium.com
WF-A44STQHappened 27 Mar 2017Live 5 Oct 2026
YouTube's algorithm serves disturbing fake cartoons to children
Thousands of videos on YouTube mimic popular children's cartoons like Peppa Pig and Frozen but contain violent, frightening or inappropriate content. The platform's recommendation system surfaces these videos to young children, who may not distinguish them from genuine cartoons. Parent Laura June reported her three-year-old daughter was exposed to a sadistic dentist scene in a fake Peppa Pig video. YouTube stated it removes flagged content and recommends parental controls, but experts argue the platform should provide better child protection.
Company
YouTube
AI system
YouTube recommendation algorithm
10 source articlesbbc.com
WF-A6W87ULive 5 Oct 2026
Microsoft AI poll asks readers to vote on woman's cause of death
An AI-generated poll on Microsoft Start appeared alongside a Guardian article about a young woman's death, asking readers to vote on whether she died by murder, accident, or suicide. The poll, marked 'Insights from AI', caused outrage and emotional distress to the bereaved family, and The Guardian's chief executive wrote to Microsoft's president demanding assurances. Microsoft acknowledged the error, deactivated all AI-generated polls, and is investigating the cause.
Company
Microsoft
AI system
Microsoft Start
10 source articleswindowscentral.com

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

Høyesterett receives first court brief with fabricated AI legal sources

AI-generated Drake song triggers copyright takedown and legal dilemma for Google

Airbnb bans user for life over nine-year-old possession charge

Scammers use AI-generated identities to steal $5.6 million in FTX debt claims fraud

Scammers use AI deepfakes to impersonate BMO strategist and economist in investment fraud

Cruise Self-Driving Car Rear-Ended by Human-Driven Cruise Vehicle in San Francisco

Andrew Forrest deepfake used in Facebook crypto scam

Deepfake videos of George Will spread misinformation about Trump and Supreme Court

Deepfake videos of doctors used to peddle fake supplements, AMA warns

Mother discovers AI chatbot sexually grooming her 11-year-old daughter on Character AI

Chris Cuomo mocked after sharing deepfake AOC video

IDF Used AI System Lavender to Target Tens of Thousands in Gaza

US Patriot missile downs RAF Tornado, killing two crew

Parents lose $15,449 in AI voice cloning scam impersonating son

Henn-na Hotel lays off half its robots after they created more work for humans

New Zealand passport scanner rejects Asian man's photo over 'closed eyes'

National Weather Service AI Map Hallucinates Fake Idaho Towns

ICE’s Mobile Fortify Facial Recognition App Misidentified a Woman Twice

The DAO Hack: 3.6 Million Ether Stolen via Recursive Call Exploit

Traffic camera fines Surrey driver after mistaking pedestrian’s shirt for number plate

Telangana Police facial recognition error leads to wrongful arrest and custodial death

Tesla Autopilot fails to centre car, shredding tyres in Redmond

YouTube's algorithm serves disturbing fake cartoons to children

Microsoft AI poll asks readers to vote on woman's cause of death