Where automated decisions went wrong

NHTSA investigation PE24016: Unexpected ADS behavior

Waymo's automated driving system exhibited unexpected behavior during driving.

Company involved

Waymo

1 source article · read the reporting →

Remini app allegedly generated child pornography image from user's photo

Asia Marie Williams, a digital creator, used the Remini app to generate an image of her future baby. The app allegedly produced a half-naked image of a toddler-aged child with her face, which she described as child pornography. She shared the image on Facebook with private parts censored. The incident has not been resolved.

Company involved

Remini

AI system involved

Remini

8 source articles · read the reporting →

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 →

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 →

Snapchat not liable for Quick Add connecting 12-year-old to sex offenders

A 12-year-old girl was sexually assaulted after Snapchat's Quick Add feature recommended she connect with convicted sex offenders. Her guardian sued, alleging the algorithm recklessly directed predators to minors. A judge dismissed the case, ruling that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act shields Snapchat from liability for third-party content and recommendation systems. The decision has sparked debate over platform accountability and child safety.

Company involved

Snapchat

AI system involved

Quick Add

1 source article · read the reporting →

Clearview AI facial recognition app scrapes billions of images and is used by police

Clearview AI, a secretive start-up, built a facial recognition app that matches photos to a database of more than three billion images scraped from social media and websites. More than 600 law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, have used the tool to identify suspects in crimes such as shoplifting, identity theft and murder. The company monitored officers who ran a reporter's photo through the app, and its founder acknowledged designing an augmented-reality prototype but said there were no plans to release it. Critics warned the tool could end anonymity and enable misuse.

Company involved

Clearview AI

AI system involved

Clearview AI facial recognition app

2 source articles · read the reporting →

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 →

Ola drivers file GDPR lawsuit over algorithmic management and data access

Two ride-hailing drivers are taking Ola to court in Amsterdam, alleging the company violated GDPR data access rights by not providing full personal data, including GPS and ratings information. They argue this hinders their ability to challenge algorithmic decisions, such as a driver who had pay docked after Ola's system incorrectly flagged trips as invalid. The case, supported by the App Drivers & Couriers Union, seeks to compel Ola to comply with data protection law and faces fines for non-compliance. Ola says it has not received notification and complies with all applicable laws.

Company involved

Ola

AI system involved

Guardian

1 source article · read the reporting →

Apple sued for $1 billion after facial recognition allegedly misidentifies teen as thief

Ousmane Bah, an 18-year-old student, alleges that Apple and its security firm used facial recognition software to incorrectly identify him as a shoplifter in multiple Apple Store thefts. He was arrested at his home and missed school, causing emotional distress and academic harm. While charges in New York and Boston were dropped after a detective noted Bah looked nothing like the suspect, a case in New Jersey remains pending. Apple denies using facial recognition in its stores, but the lawsuit claims the technology was used by its security contractor.

Company involved

Apple

5 source articles · read the reporting →

Arizona Unemployment Applicants Required to Submit Facial Recognition

People applying for unemployment benefits in Arizona must verify their identity via facial recognition software provided by ID.me. If the system fails to match a selfie to a photo ID, applicants can be denied benefits unless they successfully complete a video chat with a referee. A class-action lawsuit filed in June 2021 alleges that the practice violates due process rights and discriminates against people of colour.

Company involved

Arizona Department of Economic Security

AI system involved

ID.me

1 source article · read the reporting →

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 →

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 →

Steak 'n Shake sued over facial recognition kiosks under BIPA

A class action lawsuit alleges that Steak 'n Shake illegally collects facial biometrics from customers using PopID-powered self-ordering kiosks without proper consent. Plaintiff Michael Massel claims the restaurant chain failed to provide notice and obtain written consent as required by Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). The suit seeks damages of up to $5,000 per violation for anyone whose biometric data was collected in Illinois in the past five years.

Company involved

Steak 'n Shake

AI system involved

PopID biometric kiosks

6 source articles · read the reporting →

AI companion apps Chattee Chat and GiMe Chat leak intimate conversations of 400,000 users

Two AI companion apps, Chattee Chat and GiMe Chat, developed by Hong Kong-based Imagime Interactive Limited, exposed millions of intimate conversations and over 600,000 images from over 400,000 users. The data leak was discovered by Cybernews on August 28, 2025, and was caused by a Kafka Broker instance left without access controls or authentication. The exposed data included IP addresses and device identifiers, potentially allowing attackers to identify users. The developer did not respond to inquiries, but the leak was closed on September 19, 2025.

Company involved

Imagime Interactive Limited

AI system involved

Chattee Chat - AI Companion and GiMe Chat - AI Companion

4 source articles · read the reporting →

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 →

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 →

Apple Siri Settlement: How to Claim Up to $95 - Yahoo Finance

Apple Siri Settlement: How to Claim Up to $95 Yahoo Finance

Company involved

Apple

AI system involved

Siri

1 source article · read the reporting →

NHTSA investigation PE24015: Rear-end Collisions Involving Zoox Vehicles

Automated driving system controlled vehicle braking and acceleration, leading to rear-end collisions with other road users

Company involved

Zoox

AI system involved

Zoox vehicle

1 source article · read the reporting →

Tesla Lawsuit Claims Autopilot Accelerated So Violently the Tires Burst - Autoblog

The vehicle accelerated violently, causing the tires to burst, affecting the driver.

Company involved

Tesla

AI system involved

Autopilot

1 source article · read the reporting →

Google Pixel 9 tools generate offensive images and fake photos

Google's Pixel Studio and Reimagine features on the Pixel 9 phones are accused of generating offensive, copyrighted images and allowing users to create convincing fake photos. Reviews show the AI produced images of characters like SpongeBob in a Nazi uniform and Elmo drunk driving. Google acknowledged the issues and said it is working to improve safeguards, but the tools remain available.

Company involved

Google

AI system involved

Pixel Studio, Reimagine (Magic Editor)

5 source articles · read the reporting →

Geico and other insurers charge higher premiums in minority neighborhoods than in white areas with similar risk

ProPublica's analysis of auto insurance premiums in California, Illinois, Texas and Missouri found that major insurers such as Geico, Allstate and Liberty Mutual charge minority neighborhoods up to 30% more than white areas with similar accident costs. The disparity is alleged to result from pricing algorithms that may inadvertently use zip code as a proxy for race. Otis Nash, a 26-year-old Chicagoan, pays $190.69 per month for Geico insurance while a white driver in a safer neighborhood pays $54.67. The insurers deny discrimination, stating they do not collect race data.

Company involved

Geico

5 source articles · read the reporting →

Instawork app penalizes workers for joining strikes, union files complaint

Unite Here Local 11 filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against Instawork, a staffing app. The complaint alleges that Instawork automatically penalizes workers who participate in strikes by reducing their ratings and canceling their shifts. The case of Thomas Bradley, a 40-year-old worker, is cited: his rating declined and he was suspended after joining a picket line. Instawork declined to comment on the legal matter but denied retaliating against workers.

Company involved

Instawork

AI system involved

Instawork

10 source articles · read the reporting →

UK ICO issues preliminary enforcement notice to Snap over My AI privacy risks

The UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has issued a preliminary enforcement notice to Snap, the owner of Snapchat, over its AI chatbot My AI. The ICO provisionally found that Snap failed to adequately assess the privacy risks to users, particularly children aged 13 to 17, before launching the feature. Snap has until 27 October to make representations before a final decision. If enforced, Snap could face a fine of up to 4% of global turnover or £17.5 million, and may be required to stop processing data for My AI in the UK.

Company involved

Snap

AI system involved

My AI

8 source articles · read the reporting →

Whitebridge AI faces complaint over false reputation reports

Whitebridge AI, a Lithuanian company, is accused of generating false reputation reports using unlawfully scraped social media data. The reports contained false warnings for 'sexual nudity' and 'dangerous political content'. Privacy group Noyb filed a complaint with the Lithuanian data protection authority, alleging violations of the GDPR. The complainants sought access to their data but received no response, and were later required to provide a qualified electronic signature to correct errors.

Company involved

Whitebridge AI

6 source articles · read the reporting →