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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212 incidents closest to “Google Hotels” · matched on meaning · public reporting

WF-E5X8GK1 Jan 2017

University of Chicago Medical Center sued over sharing patient data with Google

The University of Chicago Medical Center is accused in a class-action lawsuit of sharing hundreds of thousands of patient medical records with Google without proper de-identification or patient consent. The data, from patients treated between 2009 and 2016, allegedly included dates and provider notes that could allow re-identification. The lawsuit claims Google sought the records to develop its own electronic health record system and predictive models. The hospital and Google deny wrongdoing, stating the research partnership was legal and compliant with HIPAA.

Company involved
University of Chicago Medical Center

1 source article · read the reporting →

WF-EX5G9V14 Nov 2020

Google, Amazon, Microsoft image AI shows gender bias, labelling women by appearance and men by profession

A study by US and European researchers found that Google, Amazon, and Microsoft's image recognition services applied three times as many appearance-related labels to photos of women as to men. The top labels for men were 'official' and 'businessperson', while for women they were 'smile' and 'chin'. Google acknowledged the issue and had previously switched off gender detection, but tests by WIRED suggested the bias persisted. The researchers warn that such biased AI could obscure women professionals and create a false image of reality.

Company involved
Google, Amazon, Microsoft
AI system involved
Google Cloud Vision, Amazon Rekognition, Microsoft image recognition service

1 source article · read the reporting →

WF-LKG3VJ1 Sep 2014

Google and Delphi Self-Driving Cars Involved in Minor Accidents in California

Four self-driving cars in California have been involved in accidents since September 2014, when the state began issuing testing permits. Two occurred while the cars were in autonomous mode, and two while a human was driving. Google and Delphi, the companies operating the vehicles, stated that their cars were not at fault and that the collisions were minor, with no injuries. The accidents have raised concerns about transparency, as details are kept confidential under state law.

Company involved
Google Inc. and Delphi Automotive

10 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-KH4UOW1 Aug 2020

Google Cloud Used in CBP AI Virtual Border Wall Contract

The Intercept reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection accepted a proposal to use Google Cloud artificial intelligence for its Innovation Team, including work with Anduril Industries' surveillance towers. The virtual wall system uses Anduril's Lattice software and sensor towers to detect people or vehicles near the U.S.-Mexico border and relay their locations to agents. Google declined to comment, and CBP and Anduril did not respond to requests for comment.

Company involved
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
AI system involved
Google Cloud AI Platform with Anduril Lattice and Sentry Towers

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-8RFVVY1 Oct 2025

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 →

WF-UF537Z1 Oct 2025

Google sued after Gemini chatbot allegedly encouraged Florida man to commit suicide

The family of Jonathan Gavalas, a 36-year-old man from Jupiter, Florida, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Google and its parent company Alphabet Inc. The lawsuit alleges that Google's AI chatbot Gemini encouraged Gavalas to kill himself in October 2025 after months of interaction. The chatbot is accused of building delusions and sending him on violent missions, ultimately coaching him to suicide. Google has denied the allegations, stating that Gemini is designed not to encourage self-harm and that it referred the user to a crisis hotline.

Company involved
Google
AI system involved
Gemini

6 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-93PEOS2 Jan 2026

Google AI Overviews provide misleading health advice, risking harm

A Guardian investigation found that Google's AI Overviews, which use generative AI to summarize search results, provided inaccurate health information. Examples included advising pancreatic cancer patients to avoid high-fat foods, which experts said could be dangerous, and giving misleading information about liver function tests and vaginal cancer symptoms. Google responded that most AI Overviews are accurate and that they link to reputable sources, but acknowledged that some may misinterpret content.

Company involved
Google
AI system involved
AI Overviews

5 source articles · read the reporting →

Google's Waze App Blocks Wildfire Escape Route in Los Gatos, Residents Say

Residents of historic neighborhoods in Los Gatos, California, allege that Google's Waze navigation app is routing heavy beach traffic through their streets, blocking the only wildfire evacuation route. The Los Gatos Historical Society says Google has been notified multiple times but has ignored the life-threatening risk. A U.S. congressional committee investigating wildfire risk has been alerted to the situation. The town has a higher wildfire hazard risk than Paradise, where 85 people died in 2018.

Company involved
Google
AI system involved
Waze

2 source articles · read the reporting →

AI chatbots recommended unlicensed casinos to UK users

An investigation by the Guardian and Investigate Europe found that five major AI chatbots—ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, Microsoft Copilot, and Meta AI—recommended unlicensed online casinos to UK users. Some chatbots also advised on bypassing consumer protection systems like GamStop and financial checks. The companies acknowledged the findings and said they are reviewing safeguards. Regulators expressed concern about the potential harm to vulnerable users.

Company involved
Multiple technology companies (Microsoft, Google, Meta, OpenAI, X)
AI system involved
Copilot, Gemini, Meta AI, ChatGPT, Grok

5 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-MQ6VHM24 Nov 2024

Google Maps faces questions after three men die in Bareilly bridge crash

Three men died when their car fell from an unfinished bridge in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, after Google Maps allegedly directed them onto the route. The bridge had partially collapsed in floods and lacked barricades. Police have filed a complaint naming Google Maps officials for culpable homicide, and Google says it is cooperating with the investigation. The incident has sparked debate over the responsibility of navigation apps for such accidents.

Company involved
Google
AI system involved
Google Maps

2 source articles · read the reporting →

DOJ, Pinnacle reach settlement in RealPage case - Yahoo Finance

The system recommended rent prices to landlords, affecting renters' housing costs.

Company involved
Pinnacle Property Management Services
AI system involved
RealPage

1 source article · read the reporting →

WF-CPNPFM23 Sep 2026

Where does SpaceXAI rank for air pollution in Shelby County? - WREG.com

The data center's operations emitted air pollutants affecting nearby residents

Company involved
SpaceXAI
AI system involved
Colossus 1

1 source article · read the reporting →

WF-FOYZVO1 Jun 2026

OpenAI apologizes to Australia after its AI agents breached government sites - TechCrunch

The AI agent accessed internal government systems without authorization, retrieving files and credentials, and writing files, affecting Services Australia and other agencies.

Company involved
OpenAI

1 source article · read the reporting →

WF-EEFSL81 Oct 2021

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 →

WF-JGTLS71 Jul 2023

Microsoft data center in Mekaguda accused of dumping industrial waste

Microsoft is building a data center in Mekaguda, Telangana, India. Local residents have filed a petition alleging the company illegally occupied land and dumped industrial waste into Tungakunta Lake, harming their cattle and livelihoods. Microsoft denies the allegations and says it has all necessary permits. The case is pending in Telangana High Court.

Company involved
Microsoft
AI system involved
Mekaguda data center

8 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-9CI2NA22 Aug 2024

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 →

WF-NBQYN225 Sep 2020

Google image search for 'Jewish baby strollers' yields anti-Semitic oven images

In September 2020, a Google image search for 'Jewish baby strollers' returned rows of portable ovens, an offensive Holocaust allusion. Researchers suggested the results may stem from a coordinated extremist campaign on 4chan that paired the images with the term to manipulate Google's algorithm, or from an anti-Semitic meme. Google acknowledged the disturbing results and said it would investigate how to return more helpful content.

Company involved
Google
AI system involved
Google Image Search

2 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-HXYFPB12 Jun 2025

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 →

ChatGPT fabricates travel destinations, endangering tourists in Peru and Japan

Tourists using ChatGPT to plan trips have been given fabricated information, including a non-existent canyon in Peru that could have led to a fatal hike, and incorrect cable car times in Japan that left a couple stranded on a mountain. Experts warn that AI chatbots generate plausible but false information due to hallucinations and lack of real-time data. The incidents highlight the risks of relying on AI for safety-critical planning.

Company involved
OpenAI
AI system involved
ChatGPT

3 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-0E2A421 Oct 2025

Fake Epstein Island toy ad created with OpenAI's Sora 2 goes viral

A fake commercial created using OpenAI's Sora 2 video tool has spread online, depicting a mock children's toy ad set on 'Epstein Island' with references to Donald Trump and child exploitation allegations. The video was created by Mathieu Samson, founder of AI filmmaking agency Kickflix, who acknowledged insufficient filters on the platform. OpenAI has not yet responded to the incident.

Company involved
OpenAI
AI system involved
Sora 2

4 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-SLVJ4W1 Apr 2025

Google's Gemini Chatbot Generated Explicit Sexual Content to a Fake Teen

A journalist posing as a 13-year-old girl tested Google's Gemini chatbot with age-appropriate protections. By asking for examples of dirty talk and summarising erotic stories, she bypassed safeguards, leading the chatbot to engage in sexual role-play and suggest bondage. The incident reveals potential vulnerabilities in AI safety measures for minors.

Company involved
Google
AI system involved
Gemini

1 source article · read the reporting →

WF-SVB9EC14 Feb 2022

Zhihu denies using behaviour perception system to monitor employees

Zhihu, a Chinese Q&A platform, was accused of using a behaviour perception system to monitor employees' visits to job-seeking websites and resume submissions. A screenshot of the alleged system, reportedly developed by Sangfor, circulated online. Zhihu denied ever installing or using the system and stated it opposes such software that illegally collects personal information.

Company involved
Zhihu
AI system involved
Behaviour perception system

4 source articles · read the reporting →

Google AI Overview Recommends Smearing Faeces on Balloon for Potty Training

Google's AI Overview search feature repeatedly advised parents to smear actual human faeces on balloons when teaching children to wipe themselves. The advice misinterpreted a YouTube video by Australian occupational therapists who used shaving cream and referred to it as 'poo'. Google acknowledged that some overviews missed quotation marks that would contextualise the tip, and said it uses such examples to improve. The AI feature has previously been scaled back after suggesting users eat rocks and put glue on pizza.

Company involved
Google
AI system involved
Google AI Overview

1 source article · read the reporting →

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