DWP algorithm approved Kickstart gateways with no trading history or based abroad
An FE Week investigation found that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) approved dozens of companies as Kickstart gateways through automated due diligence checks using the Cabinet Office Spotlight Tool, although some had little or no trading history or were based abroad. The DWP said gateways were subject to stringent checks and later said human checks were also used. After the findings were shared with the Treasury and the DWP, the department stopped taking gateway applications and scrapped the requirement for small employers to use gateways from 3 February.
- Company involved
- Department for Work and Pensions
- AI system involved
- Cabinet Office Spotlight Tool
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Delhi Police use facial recognition to screen PM Modi rally attendees
Delhi Police used an Automated Facial Recognition System (AFRS) to screen crowds at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally on December 22, 2019. The system, originally installed to find missing children, was used to identify possible disruptions. Privacy advocates called the move illegal and unconstitutional, saying it amounts to mass surveillance. Police defended the use, citing credible intelligence about possible disruptions.
- Company involved
- Delhi Police
- AI system involved
- Automated Facial Recognition System (AFRS)
6 source articles · read the reporting →
CBSE OnMark portal vulnerability exposed student data to Google Gemini
A 19-year-old ethical hacker, Nisarga Adhikary, claimed to have hacked the CBSE's digital evaluation ecosystem, revealing that personal information of students was processed by Google's Gemini in automation scripts. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) stated on May 31, 2026, that the identified vulnerabilities had been contained and other exploitable weaknesses were being ruled out. The board expressed gratitude to alert citizens and ethical hackers who pointed out the weaknesses. No actual data breach was confirmed, but the incident raised concerns about student privacy.
- Company involved
- Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
- AI system involved
- OnMark
1 source article · read the reporting →
Microsoft Copilot vulnerable to automated phishing and data theft
Security researcher Michael Bargury demonstrated at Black Hat that Microsoft's Copilot AI can be manipulated by attackers to send phishing emails, extract private data, and bypass security protections. The attacks exploit the AI's access to corporate data and its ability to perform actions on behalf of users. Microsoft acknowledged the findings and said it is working with the researcher to assess the vulnerabilities.
- Company involved
- Microsoft
- AI system involved
- Copilot
3 source articles · read the reporting →
CBP One app strands migrants in Mexico, aids organised crime, says HRW
The US Customs and Border Protection's CBP One app, which is mandatory for asylum seekers, offers only 1,450 appointments per day while border arrivals average 7,240. Human Rights Watch reports that this digital metering leaves migrants stranded in Mexico, vulnerable to kidnapping and extortion by organised crime groups. The report alleges that the app enriches criminal cartels and that exceptions for imminent threats are often ignored.
- Company involved
- US Customs and Border Protection
- AI system involved
- CBP One
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Meta's cross-check program delays removal of violating content for privileged users
The Oversight Board's policy advisory opinion on Meta's cross-check program found that the system grants certain users, such as business partners and celebrities, additional human review before removing violating content, while ordinary users face immediate removal. This unequal treatment allows potentially harmful content to remain on the platform for days, and Meta has failed to track whether the program improves accuracy. The Board made 32 recommendations to address these flaws.
- Company involved
- Meta
- AI system involved
- cross-check program
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Vumacam's AI CCTV system flagged 28 black people as suspicious in Johannesburg suburbs
In Johannesburg suburbs, Vumacam's AI-powered CCTV network using iSentry software flagged 28 black individuals as 'suspicious' in a shift report, according to a 2019 article. The system, deployed by private security firms, uses video analytics to detect abnormal behavior and alerts security guards. The article alleges that the system disproportionately targets people of color, reflecting racial bias in a racially divided country.
- Company involved
- Vumacam
- AI system involved
- iSentry
6 source articles · read the reporting →
42,900 OpenClaw AI agents exposed, 15,200 vulnerable to RCE
SecurityScorecard's STRIKE team revealed on February 9, 2026, that approximately 42,900 OpenClaw agentic AI instances are exposed on the internet due to insecure default configurations. Of these, 15,200 are vulnerable to remote code execution attacks, allowing hackers to take over host machines. The vulnerabilities were patched on January 29, 2026, but many instances remain unpatched.
- AI system involved
- OpenClaw
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Samsung settles Texas lawsuit over ACR data collection on smart TVs
Samsung has settled a lawsuit with the Texas Attorney General over its Automated Content Recognition (ACR) system on smart TVs. The system collected viewing data from users without informed consent. As part of the settlement, Samsung agreed to stop collecting ACR data from Texans without explicit consent and to rewrite its privacy prompts. Samsung also faces a federal class action in New York over similar allegations.
- Company involved
- Samsung
- AI system involved
- Automated Content Recognition (ACR)
7 source articles · read the reporting →
US Central Command used Anthropic's Claude in Iran airstrikes after Trump ban.
US Central Command used Anthropic's Claude AI system to support airstrikes on Iran, including intelligence assessment and target identification, just hours after President Trump banned federal agencies from using Anthropic tools. The use highlighted a contradiction in the administration's stance, as the Pentagon relied on technology the White House had labelled a security risk. Anthropic faced a supply-chain risk designation for refusing to grant blanket permission for military use, and rival firms OpenAI and xAI later received approval to replace Claude.
- Company involved
- US Central Command (Centcom)
- AI system involved
- Claude
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Durham's ShotSpotter fails to detect two deadly shootings
ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system piloted by the Durham Police Department, failed to detect two fatal shootings in February 2023, as well as a New Year's Day shooting that injured five. The system, which uses sensors and human review to alert police, did not send alerts for these incidents within its three-square-mile coverage area. The company stated it investigated and provided a report to the police, while a city official defended the pilot, noting it is still early in the year-long trial. Community concerns have been raised about increased police presence and potential racial profiling.
- Company involved
- Durham Police Department
- AI system involved
- ShotSpotter
5 source articles · read the reporting →
New Records Show Medicare WISeR AI Prior Authorization Model Causing Inappropriate Denials of Care - Medicare Rights Center
The system denied or delayed prior authorization for medical procedures, affecting Medicare beneficiaries in six states.
- Company involved
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- AI system involved
- WISeR
1 source article · read the reporting →
School AI surveillance like Gaggle can lead to false alarms, arrests
AI surveillance tools used in schools, such as Gaggle, GoGuardian and Bark, are reported to generate false alarms that have led to student arrests. The article examines cases where automated monitoring flagged innocent behaviour as threats, causing harm to students and families.
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Pasco Sheriff's Office used algorithm to target potential future criminals and schoolchildren
The Pasco Sheriff's Office operates an intelligence-led policing programme that uses an algorithm to identify people who might break the law based on criminal histories and social networks. Deputies are sent to the homes of those flagged, even without evidence of a crime, and former deputies allege they were ordered to make targets' lives miserable. The agency also keeps a list of more than 400 schoolchildren predicted to 'fall into a life of crime', built from data such as grades and child welfare records, without informing the children or their parents. Civil liberties groups are considering lawsuits and public advocacy campaigns, and experts have called the programmes 'morally repugnant'.
- Company involved
- Pasco Sheriff's Office
10 source articles · 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 →
White House investigates AI voice-cloning hack impersonating Chief of Staff
The White House is investigating a cyber breach in which contacts of Chief of Staff Susie Wiles were accessed and used to impersonate her with AI voice cloning. Multiple high-level figures reportedly received calls and texts appearing to be from her. The White House spokesperson said the matter is under investigation, but no specific harm from the calls has been confirmed.
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Xuhui police expand facial recognition surveillance to profile 1.1 million residents
The Xuhui District branch of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Public Security is expanding its Intelligent Image Recognition System, adding 2,500 facial recognition cameras and increased computing capacity to build profiles of residents and flag deviations. The project, contracted to US-sanctioned FiberHome, is designed to match each face to files on more than 50 million people. Officials say the system will analyse behaviour patterns and trigger early warnings.
- Company involved
- Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Public Security, Xuhui District Branch
- AI system involved
- Intelligent Image Recognition System
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Facebook's moderation systems fail to detect ISIS propaganda network
A report by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue found that a network of ISIS supporters evaded Facebook's automated and manual moderation systems for months, spreading terrorist content that garnered tens of thousands of views. The network used tactics such as blurring logos and adding news branding to avoid detection. Facebook removed the accounts after being alerted, but the network adapted by shifting to new accounts.
- Company involved
- Facebook
1 source article · read the reporting →
Dahua Exposed for Uyghur Tracking Software in Surveillance Systems
Dahua Technology's publicly available SDK was found to contain code for detecting Uyghur ethnicity, enabling Chinese police to covertly track the persecuted minority. The revelation led to widespread criticism, and Dahua removed the SDK after being contacted by IPVM but did not comment. The company had previously been sanctioned by the US for complicity in human rights abuses against Uyghurs, and its software is part of a massive surveillance apparatus in Xinjiang.
- Company involved
- Dahua Technology
- AI system involved
- Dahua SDK
1 source article · read the reporting →
US Secret Service bought access to cellphone location data
The US Secret Service signed a contract to access Locate X, a service that aggregates location data from phone apps and allows law enforcement to track devices without a warrant. The contract with Babel Street was worth about $36,000 and ran from 2017 to 2018. A former employee said the Secret Service used Locate X in 2018 to seize illegal credit card skimmers at petrol stations. Lawmakers and civil liberties advocates criticised the practice, and Senator Ron Wyden introduced a bill to ban such purchases.
- Company involved
- United States Secret Service
- AI system involved
- Locate X
1 source article · read the reporting →
San Francisco Police Wrongfully Stop Woman at Gunpoint After License Plate Reader Error
On March 30, 2009, Denise Green, a 47-year-old African-American woman, was driving in San Francisco when an automatic license plate reader misread her plate as stolen. Despite discrepancies between the vehicle description and the stolen plate, officers conducted a felony stop, ordering her out at gunpoint and handcuffing her for nearly 20 minutes. Green filed a civil rights lawsuit alleging Fourth Amendment violations. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated her case, finding that the officers lacked reasonable suspicion for the stop.
- Company involved
- San Francisco Police Department
1 source article · read the reporting →
Labor unions sue Trump administration over AI social media surveillance
Three labor unions (UAW, CWA, AFT) filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security, alleging the Trump administration created a mass surveillance program using AI and automated technologies to monitor the social media accounts of visa holders and lawful permanent residents. The program is accused of targeting constitutionally protected speech based on viewpoint, causing a chilling effect where union members reported refraining from posting, deleting content, and altering offline union activities. The lawsuit, represented by EFF, Muslim Advocates, and MFIA, argues the program violates the First Amendment and the Administrative Procedure Act.
- Company involved
- U.S. Department of State
- AI system involved
- Catch and Revoke
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Facebook exempted Trump and other high-profile users from content enforcement rules.
An internal Facebook program called XCheck granted special treatment to millions of high-profile users, including former President Donald Trump and Senator Elizabeth Warren, exempting them from content enforcement rules. The program, initially for quality control, was expanded to whitelist users deemed newsworthy or PR-risky, with the system failing to enforce rules against them. Internal documents revealed that the program made mistakes, often wrongly taking action against high-profile users. Facebook has attempted to phase out the practice but has struggled.
- Company involved
- Facebook
- AI system involved
- XCheck
10 source articles · read the reporting →
