The 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.

Reports people file about their own experience are not shown here and never will be without their agreement. Tell us what happened to you.

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140 incidents closest to “Earnix Pricing” · matched on meaning · public reporting

WF-9A5GCW1 Feb 2024

Wendy's denies plans for surge pricing after customer backlash

Wendy's, a US burger chain, told investors it planned to test dynamic pricing on digital menu displays. The announcement drew backlash online, with accusations of price gouging. Wendy's later denied any intention to raise prices during busy periods, saying its plans had been misconstrued.

Company involved
Wendy's
AI system involved
Dynamic pricing

9 source articles · read the reporting →

Audit of RisCanvi finds biases and reliability issues in criminal justice system

Eticas conducted an adversarial audit of RisCanvi, an AI risk assessment tool used in Catalonia's criminal justice system. The audit uncovered biases in risk classifications against specific demographics and significant reliability issues. The findings call for fairer practices in criminal justice AI.

Company involved
Catalonia's criminal justice system
AI system involved
RisCanvi

4 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-0WY9N626 Jan 2015

Uber caps surge pricing at 2.8x during New York blizzard

During a major snowstorm in New York City in January 2015, Uber capped its surge pricing at 2.8 times the normal fare after facing criticism for price gouging during Hurricane Sandy. The company announced the cap in an email to users and said it would donate proceeds to the American Red Cross. The policy was in line with an agreement with the New York Attorney General to prevent massive price surges during emergencies.

Company involved
Uber
AI system involved
Uber surge pricing

5 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-MRU0QR12 Apr 2022

Uber and Lyft surge pricing after NYC subway shooting leads to refunds

After a shooting on a Brooklyn subway train, Uber and Lyft's automated surge pricing algorithms increased fares for riders in the area. Both companies later disabled surge pricing and stated they would refund customers who were overcharged. The incident highlights the risk of automated pricing systems that cannot account for emergency contexts.

Company involved
Uber and Lyft

6 source articles · read the reporting →

Thomson Reuters wins copyright lawsuit against AI startup Ross Intelligence

In 2020, Thomson Reuters filed a copyright lawsuit against legal AI startup Ross Intelligence, alleging that Ross reproduced materials from its Westlaw legal research service. In February 2025, a US District Court judge ruled in Thomson Reuters' favor, finding that Ross infringed copyright and that fair use did not apply. Ross Intelligence had shut down in 2021 due to litigation costs.

Company involved
Ross Intelligence
AI system involved
Ross Intelligence

4 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-BB09W429 Aug 2024

Ticketmaster dynamic pricing inflates Oasis reunion tour ticket prices

Ticketmaster's dynamic pricing system caused ticket prices for Oasis's reunion tour to surge from around £135 to over £488 for some fans. Fans reported paying double or triple the face value for standing tickets in Dublin and Cardiff. The system, which adjusts prices based on demand, has been criticised by fans on social media. Ticketmaster has not commented on the incident.

Company involved
Ticketmaster

9 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-I4OTS330 Aug 2024

Edinburgh Airport AI trial gives passengers different parking prices

Edinburgh Airport admitted it was trialling an AI system that randomly set higher or lower parking prices for online bookers, with customers receiving different quotes for the same service. The Scottish Passenger Agents Association called for the trial to be conducted in controlled 'lab' conditions rather than on the public. The airport said the AI's pricing closely matched staff-set prices and the findings would evaluate whether to adopt the system.

Company involved
Edinburgh Airport
AI system involved
AI trial for parking pricing

3 source articles · read the reporting →

Dynamic pricing raises Royal Opera ticket price to £415

The Royal Opera House used dynamic pricing to set ticket prices for Wagner's Siegfried. The price reached £415, among the highest for any performing arts event in British history. The algorithm increased prices based on demand, affecting ticket buyers.

Company involved
Royal Opera House

5 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-OP475C1 Jan 2018

Dutch probation service's OXREC algorithm flawed, leading to incorrect recidivism risk assessments

The Dutch Inspectorate of Justice and Security (Inspectie JenV) published a report finding that the probation service's (Reclassering) OXREC algorithm contains serious flaws, including swapped formulas and incorrect numbers, causing about a quarter of risk assessments to be wrong. The algorithm, used since 2018 for about 44,000 cases per year, also uses variables that can lead to discrimination, such as neighborhood score and income. The Inspectorate recommended immediate correction or temporary suspension. The probation service announced it would temporarily stop using OXREC.

Company involved
Reclassering Nederland
AI system involved
OXREC

4 source articles · read the reporting →

Amazon overcharged school districts and local governments using opaque pricing algorithms

Senator Elizabeth Warren pressed Amazon CEO over allegations that Amazon Business uses opaque pricing algorithms and misleading contracts to overcharge school districts and local governments. An investigation found that Amazon charged some buyers up to three times as much for identical products, such as a 12-pack of Sharpie markers. The pricing is algorithm-driven and dynamic, and Amazon's group purchasing contracts with OMNIA Partners sidestep traditional competitive bidding. The overcharging is ongoing and has not been resolved.

Company involved
Amazon
AI system involved
Amazon Business

6 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-04R0261 Sep 2015

Princeton Review charges higher SAT prep fees to Asian Americans

A ProPublica study found that Princeton Review's geographically-determined pricing system charges Asian American students almost twice as likely as other ethnicities to pay the highest prices for online SAT tutoring. The system sets prices based on location, with higher prices in areas like New York City where Asian Americans are concentrated. Princeton Review stated that prices reflect local costs and competition, but the disparity raises concerns about racial discrimination in automated pricing.

Company involved
Princeton Review

7 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-Y1WBTU22 Mar 2022

Citizens Advice finds ethnicity penalty in car insurance pricing

Citizens Advice conducted exploratory research into car insurance pricing and found that people of colour may be paying £250 more per year than White people. The research suggests that areas with large communities of colour may be identified as more risky by algorithms, even when objective risk factors are controlled. Citizens Advice has called on the Financial Conduct Authority to investigate the issue.

9 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-UF6BMA1 Jan 2018

TransUnion AI tenant screening denied 75-year-old man apartment due to mistaken littering conviction

Chris Robinson, then 75, applied for a senior living apartment in California. The property manager used an AI screening program from TransUnion, which assigned him a low score based on a mistaken conviction for littering that belonged to a different person with the same name in Texas. Robinson lost the apartment and his application fee. A federal class-action lawsuit against TransUnion moved toward a $11.5 million settlement in 2023.

10 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-53EQUB1 Jun 2019

Security Health Plan used AI to cut off nursing home care for 85-year-old woman

Frances Walter, an 85-year-old woman with a shattered shoulder, had her nursing home care payment cut off by Security Health Plan after an algorithm predicted she would recover in 16.6 days. The algorithm, nH Predict from NaviHealth, did not account for her severe pain and allergy to pain medicine. She was forced to spend her life savings and enroll in Medicaid while fighting the denial. A federal judge later ruled the denial was speculative and she was owed thousands of dollars.

Company involved
Security Health Plan
AI system involved
nH Predict

1 source article · read the reporting →

WF-2ZQ1HW24 Jul 2020

PredictiveHire builds AI to predict job hopping from interviews

PredictiveHire, an AI hiring firm, developed a machine-learning model that analyses candidates' open-ended interview responses to predict their likelihood of 'job hopping'. The company used data from 45,899 applicants to build the 'flight risk' assessment, which it advertises as coming soon. Scholars warn that such tools can suppress wages by screening out workers who might seek better pay or conditions, continuing a historical trend of using personality tests to identify potential labour organisers.

Company involved
PredictiveHire
AI system involved
Phai

1 source article · read the reporting →

WF-2CXT6S1 Jan 2018

SEC charges YouPlus and CEO with defrauding investors

The SEC charged machine-learning startup YouPlus and its CEO Shaukat Shamim with defrauding investors. Shamim allegedly made false statements about the company's revenue and customer numbers, including providing falsified bank statements. The scheme unravelled when Shamim confessed to investors that the company had earned less than $500,000 and had only four paying customers since 2013. The SEC is seeking permanent injunctions, civil penalties, and an officer-and-director bar.

Company involved
YouPlus
AI system involved
YouPlus machine-learning tool

1 source article · read the reporting →

WF-DFMQ9J1 Mar 2024

Insurer drops California homeowner after aerial photo analysis

Cindy Picos was dropped by her home insurer after the company used aerial photos to assess her roof. The insurer refused to let her see the photos, and she believes her roof is in fine shape. The incident highlights the growing use of drones and aerial imagery by insurers to inspect properties without in-person visits.

2 source articles · read the reporting →

iTutorGroup to Pay $365,000 to Settle EEOC Discriminatory Hiring Suit

The system automatically rejected tutor applicants aged 55+ (women) or 60+ (men).

Company involved
iTutorGroup

1 source article · read the reporting →

WF-OYBVNA14 Feb 2024

Grab's surge pricing algorithm always adds fees, investigation finds

An investigation by the Pulitzer Center found that Grab's ride-hailing app in the Philippines always includes surge fees in its fares, even when wait times are long. Customers like Rica Torres reported rising costs without explanation. A complaint filed with the LTFRB in 2022 remains unresolved, and the regulator has not determined how the algorithm sets surge rates.

Company involved
Grab
AI system involved
Grab app

8 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-D83EVM2 Nov 2021

Zillow faces securities class action over Zillow Offers wind-down

Zillow Group, Inc. is accused of making false and misleading statements to investors about its Zillow Offers home-flipping business. The company allegedly failed to disclose that its forecasting algorithm was unable to predict home prices accurately, leading to a $304 million inventory write-down and a decision to wind down the business. Investors who bought shares between February 10 and November 2, 2021, suffered losses when the stock price dropped after the announcement. A class action lawsuit has been filed in Washington federal court.

Company involved
Zillow Group, Inc.
AI system involved
Zillow Offers

10 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-2MHEYD15 Dec 2014

Uber apologises for surge pricing during Sydney siege

During the 2014 Sydney Martin Place siege, Uber's surge pricing algorithm automatically raised fares by up to four times the normal rate as people tried to leave the area. The company faced heavy criticism on social media and later apologised, refunding affected customers and offering free rides. Uber acknowledged that not stopping surge pricing immediately was the wrong decision.

Company involved
Uber

7 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-6LKJQA1 Jan 2022

Instacart used AI to charge different customers different prices for same items

Instacart, a grocery delivery company, was found to have used AI pricing algorithms to charge some customers up to 23% more than others for identical products at the same location. Research by Groundwork Collaborative, Consumer Reports, and More Perfect Union, based on data from 437 shoppers, revealed price fluctuations averaging 7%. Instacart acquired the AI firm Eversight in 2022 and began experimenting with dynamic pricing. The company stated that the tests have ended.

Company involved
Instacart

6 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-DC7W6F1 Aug 2022

Hospital Denies Pain Medication to Patient Based on Narx Score

Elizabeth Amirault, a 34-year-old chronic pain patient, was denied narcotic pain medication during a hospital visit in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in August 2022. A nurse practitioner told her that her Narx Score, generated by Bamboo Health's NarxCare platform, was too high to prescribe opioids. The algorithm uses prescription drug monitoring data to assess risk of misuse, but critics say it can harm patients by cutting off needed care. Amirault believes her score was unfairly high due to her multiple surgeries and doctors.

AI system involved
NarxCare

3 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-DYR3NM1 Jun 2021

State Farm accused of algorithmic bias against Black homeowners

A class action lawsuit filed in Chicago alleges State Farm's automated claims processing system discriminates against Black policyholders. The suit claims Black customers are more likely to face additional paperwork and longer waits for claim approval than white customers, citing data from 800 homeowners. State Farm has stated it takes the filing seriously and is committed to fair treatment, while the plaintiffs seek to enjoin the current system and require audits.

Company involved
State Farm
AI system involved
automated claims processing system

2 source articles · read the reporting →

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