Philip Morris accused of using AI to rig EU tobacco consultation responses
Dutch broadcasters Pointer and NOS allege that Philip Morris International used an AI-powered platform, 'Your Voice, Your Choice', to generate responses to the European Commission's public consultation on tobacco legislation. The platform offered pre-defined responses and AI assistance, leading to an estimated 30 per cent of all responses being AI-generated. Philip Morris denies wrongdoing, stating that users retained full control and that anti-tobacco lobbyists are attempting to discredit legitimate participation. The incident raises concerns about the integrity of EU democratic processes.
- Company involved
- Philip Morris International
- AI system involved
- Your Voice, Your Choice
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Italian DPA fines Municipality of Trento over AI surveillance projects
The Italian data protection authority (Garante) fined the Municipality of Trento €50,000 for two research projects, Marvel and Protector, that used AI to analyze video, audio, and social media data for public security purposes. The projects involved automated detection of risk events from surveillance cameras and microphones in public spaces, as well as monitoring social media for hate speech. The Garante found multiple violations of privacy law, including lack of a valid legal basis, insufficient anonymization, failure to conduct a data protection impact assessment, and inadequate transparency. The municipality is required to delete the unlawfully processed data.
- Company involved
- Comune di Trento
- AI system involved
- Marvel and Protector
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Bahia Facial Recognition System Misidentifies Black Man as Wanted Criminal
Davi, a black administrative assistant, was tracked across 15 metro stations and approached by police after Bahia's facial recognition system falsely matched him to a wanted person. He was released after officers verified his identity. The system, supplied by Iecisa and Huawei, has a low accuracy rate and disproportionately affects black people. The government plans to expand it despite concerns over racial bias and errors.
- Company involved
- Secretaria de Segurança Pública da Bahia
2 source articles · read the reporting →
MAA, JBG to pay DC $9.3M total to settle RealPage case - Multifamily Dive
The system set rent prices for tenants, causing them to pay higher rents.
- Company involved
- MAA (Mid-America Apartments) and JBG Smith
- AI system involved
- RealPage Revenue Management Software
1 source article · read the reporting →
Greek Data Protection Authority fines Ministry of Migration and Asylum for AI surveillance systems
The Hellenic Data Protection Authority (HDPA) imposed an administrative fine of €175,000 on the Ministry of Migration and Asylum (MMA) for GDPR violations related to the 'Centaur' and 'Hyperion' programmes. These systems use AI behavioral analytics, CCTV, drones, and biometric data to monitor and control access to reception facilities for asylum seekers on Greek islands. The HDPA found that the MMA failed to conduct proper Data Protection Impact Assessments and did not cooperate with the authority. The MMA has been ordered to comply with GDPR within three months.
- Company involved
- Ministry of Migration and Asylum
- AI system involved
- Centaur and Hyperion programmes
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Manchester City to Trial Facial Recognition at Etihad Stadium
Manchester City are set to trial facial recognition software supplied by Blink Identity at the Etihad Stadium. The system would scan fans' faces to check whether they have bought tickets and allow entry, with the aim of reducing matchday queues. Fans would need to sign up using a picture of their face. The article notes concerns about the potential security of users, but the club and vendor say they are committed to protecting fans.
- Company involved
- Manchester City
1 source article · read the reporting →
CMA investigates Amazon over suspected anti-competitive marketplace practices
The UK Competition and Markets Authority has opened an investigation into Amazon UK Marketplace, alleging that Amazon may be abusing a dominant position by using third-party seller data and favouring its own retail business or sellers using its logistics and delivery services. The investigation will examine how Amazon collects and uses seller data, how it sets criteria for the Buy Box, and how it determines Prime eligibility. The CMA stated it has not reached any conclusions and that the investigation focuses on potential harm to competition and consumers.
- Company involved
- Amazon
8 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 →
Privacy International challenges Clearview AI's facial recognition database in Europe
Privacy International filed complaints against Clearview AI with five European data protection authorities in May 2021, alleging that the company's scraping of facial images from the web and building a biometric database without consent violates data protection laws. The regulators in the UK, France, Italy, Greece, and Austria have since found Clearview's practices unlawful, imposed fines, and ordered deletion of data. Clearview has appealed the UK fine, and the case is ongoing.
- Company involved
- Clearview AI
- AI system involved
- Clearview
10 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 →
Disney and Universal sue AI firm Midjourney over image generator copyright infringement
Disney and Universal have filed a lawsuit against AI firm Midjourney in federal district court in Los Angeles, alleging that its image generator produces 'innumerable' copies of copyrighted characters including Darth Vader, Elsa, and the Minions. The studios claim the system infringes their copyrights by generating images that are substantially similar to their characters. Midjourney has not responded to a request for comment. The case is ongoing.
- Company involved
- Midjourney
- AI system involved
- Midjourney image generator
5 source articles · read the reporting →
France uses AI to monitor mask-wearing on public transport
France has deployed AI software from startup DatakaLab in the Paris metro to check if passengers are wearing face masks. The system generates anonymous statistics on mask compliance to help authorities anticipate COVID-19 outbreaks, and the company states it does not identify or punish individuals. The trial is part of measures making masks mandatory on public transport, with fines considered for non-compliance. Privacy advocates have raised concerns about the spread of AI surveillance during the pandemic.
1 source article · read the reporting →
Content Giants Sue Unauthorized AI, Invest in Paid Partners - 조선일보
Generated images of copyrighted characters without authorization, affecting Disney and NBCUniversal's intellectual property rights.
- Company involved
- Midjourney
- AI system involved
- Midjourney
1 source article · read the reporting →
Google sued for secretly tracking user data with Gemini AI
Google is accused in a class-action lawsuit of secretly activating its Gemini AI assistant for Gmail, Chat, and Meet users in October 2025, enabling it to collect private communications data without consent. The suit alleges violation of the California Invasion of Privacy Act. Google has not responded to the allegations.
- Company involved
- Google
- AI system involved
- Gemini
4 source articles · read the reporting →
OpenAI Relied on Low-Paid Kenyan Workers to Filter Traumatic Content for ChatGPT
OpenAI contracted Sama, a data labeling company, to employ Kenyan workers to review and label graphic text depicting child sexual abuse, murder, and other traumatic content. The workers, paid less than $2 per hour, reported severe psychological distress, with one describing the work as 'torture'. Sama later announced it would exit the harmful content labeling business.
- Company involved
- Sama
8 source articles · read the reporting →
Italian bank (Fideuram / Intesa Sanpaolo) loses about 95 million euro to AI voice-clone scam
The AI-generated voice deceived the chairman into authorizing transfers of about 95 million euros.
1 source article · read the reporting →
Spanish data regulator orders Worldcoin to stop processing biometric data in Spain
The Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) has ordered a precautionary measure against Tools for Humanity Corporation, the company behind Worldcoin, to cease collection and processing of personal data in Spain. The AEPD received complaints alleging insufficient information, collection of data from minors, and inability to withdraw consent. The regulator acted under GDPR Article 66.1 to prevent potentially irreparable harm to individuals' data protection rights.
- Company involved
- Tools for Humanity Corporation
- AI system involved
- Worldcoin
8 source articles · read the reporting →
Portuguese regulator suspends Worldcoin's biometric data collection
Portugal's data protection authority, CNPD, has ordered Worldcoin Foundation to suspend collection of iris, eye and facial biometric data in Portugal for 90 days. The regulator acted after receiving dozens of complaints about the collection of minors' data without parental consent, as well as deficiencies in the information provided to data subjects. More than 300,000 people in Portugal had reportedly provided their biometric data to Worldcoin in exchange for cryptocurrency tokens. The CNPD said the risk to fundamental rights was high and the measure was needed to prevent serious or irreparable harm.
- Company involved
- Worldcoin Foundation
- AI system involved
- Orb
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Airbnb bans users in Australia using trustworthiness algorithm
Airbnb is accused of using an algorithm acquired from Trooly to score users' trustworthiness based on publicly available data, including social media and occupation. Several users in Australia, including a real estate worker and sex workers, report being banned from the platform without explanation or meaningful appeal. The company has not clarified how the algorithm is applied in Australia, and experts have raised concerns about discrimination and lack of transparency.
- Company involved
- Airbnb
- AI system involved
- Trooly
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Google AI Overviews hallucinates Airbus involvement in Air India crash
Google's AI Overviews feature generated incorrect search results claiming that a fatal Air India crash involved an Airbus A330, when the aircraft was actually a Boeing 787. The error was spotted by a Reddit user and reported by Ars Technica. Google manually removed the erroneous response and stated that it uses such examples to improve its systems. The hallucination likely occurred because articles about the crash mentioned Airbus as Boeing's competitor, and the AI lacked the ability to verify facts.
- Company involved
- Google
- AI system involved
- AI Overviews
1 source article · read the reporting →
FTC Orders Edmodo to Stop Unlawful Collection of Children's Data for Advertising
The FTC filed a complaint against Edmodo, an education technology provider, alleging that it collected personal information from children under 13 without parental consent and used it for advertising, in violation of the COPPA Rule. Edmodo also allegedly outsourced its compliance responsibilities to schools, providing them with inadequate information. Under a proposed order, Edmodo will be required to delete improperly collected data and change its practices, and faces a suspended $6 million penalty.
- Company involved
- Edmodo, LLC
- AI system involved
- Edmodo
1 source article · read the reporting →
Guardia Civil identifies creators of AI nudes affecting 22 women in Pontevedra
Two men in Pontevedra, Spain, have been identified by the Guardia Civil for allegedly creating and disseminating AI-generated nude images of 22 women without their consent. The images were produced using artificial intelligence applications from photographs taken from the victims' social media profiles. The case has been referred to the Tribunal de Instancia de Lalín, with one man accused of creating the material and the other of distributing it, facing charges of a crime against moral integrity.
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Engineer.ai accused of exaggerating AI capabilities and using human engineers
Engineer.ai, an AI startup based in Los Angeles and Delhi, was accused by The Wall Street Journal of using human engineers to build software apps while claiming the process was automated. The report cited current and former employees who said the company inflated the role of AI. Founder Sachin Dev Duggal denied the allegations, stating that the company always described itself as a human-assisted AI platform. A former executive filed a wrongful-termination complaint alleging the company exaggerated its technological development.
- Company involved
- Engineer.ai
6 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 →
