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 →
Duke University MTMC Dataset Used in Authoritarian Surveillance Research
Duke University created and openly distributed the Duke MTMC dataset, containing surveillance footage of approximately 2,000 students and visitors on campus. The dataset was used by numerous organisations, including Chinese military-linked companies like SenseTime and Hikvision, for developing person re-identification and facial recognition technologies. Following an investigation by exposing.ai and the Financial Times, Duke University terminated the dataset in May 2019. The incident highlights the privacy risks of academic datasets being repurposed for mass surveillance without consent.
- Company involved
- Duke University
- AI system involved
- Duke MTMC
1 source article · 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 →
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 →
AI-generated video falsely shows scientist endorsing heart disease remedy
A Facebook page published an AI-generated video impersonating US-based Nigerian scientist Samuel Achilefu and a TVC News presenter to promote a fake heart disease remedy called Cordis. The video falsely claimed the product could revitalise blood vessels and stabilise blood pressure. Achilefu denied involvement and reported the video to the FBI. AFP Fact Check found the video was created using AI and the product's manufacturer denied producing it.
- Company involved
- Mohammad Al-Hamdan
2 source articles · read the reporting →
AI-powered scam compound in Myanmar uses ChatGPT and Gemini to defraud thousands globally
Safeer Mohammed Koorimannil, trafficked to a scam compound in Tai Chang, Myanmar, was forced to use AI-powered software to impersonate a woman and deceive victims into sending money. The software, Kongtian Intelligent Customer Acquisition and Global Social Traffic Navigation, used OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini to generate messages and translate in over 100 languages. Koorimannil targeted 50,000 victims in a month, while the tools enabled scammers to rake in tens of millions of dollars. U.S. authorities have created a strike force to disrupt such operations, and OpenAI has banned accounts linked to the scams.
- Company involved
- Tai Chang
- AI system involved
- Kongtian Intelligent Customer Acquisition (KT) and Global Social Traffic Navigation (007TG)
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Researchers find bias in chest X-ray AI classifiers against women, Hispanic and Medicaid patients
A study by the University of Toronto, Vector Institute, and MIT found that AI classifiers trained on public chest X-ray datasets exhibited racial, gender, and socioeconomic bias. Female patients, Hispanic patients, and those with Medicaid insurance were disproportionately affected, with the classifiers often providing incorrect diagnoses for Medicaid patients. The researchers attributed the bias to imbalanced training data and called for rigorous fairness analyses before clinical deployment.
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Tehran Times spreads AI-generated fake satellite image of destroyed US base
Tehran Times, an Iranian state-aligned news outlet, posted on X an AI-generated satellite image that falsely claimed to show a completely destroyed US radar base in Qatar. The image was actually a manipulated version of a Google Earth image of a US base in Bahrain, and it garnered millions of views across social media. Researchers warn that such AI-enabled disinformation during wartime can influence public opinion and have real-world security implications. The incident highlights the growing challenge of distinguishing authentic satellite imagery from AI-generated fakes.
- Company involved
- Tehran Times
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Hospitals Use OpenAI’s Whisper Despite Medical Transcription Hallucinations
OpenAI’s Whisper transcription tool is used by over 30,000 medical workers and can insert fabricated text into patient records. Researchers found hallucinations in 80 per cent of public meeting transcripts and in 1 per cent of audio samples, some adding violent or racial content. Mankato Clinic and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles are among 40 health systems using Nabla’s Whisper-powered copilot, which erases original audio recordings. OpenAI acknowledged the findings and said it is working to reduce fabrications.
- Company involved
- Mankato Clinic; Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
- AI system involved
- Whisper
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Kmart's facial recognition system for refund fraud found unlawful by Privacy Commissioner
Kmart Australia deployed facial recognition technology in 28 stores from June 2020 to July 2022, capturing biometric data of every customer entering the stores and those at returns counters to detect refund fraud. The system collected sensitive information without notifying customers or obtaining their consent. The Australian Privacy Commissioner found that Kmart breached the Privacy Act, as the exemption for unlawful activity did not justify the indiscriminate and disproportionate collection of biometric data from thousands of individuals. Kmart has ceased using the system and cooperated with the investigation.
- Company involved
- Kmart Australia Limited
7 source articles · read the reporting →
Macau police warn of deepfake video impersonating Chief Executive in investment scam
The Macau Judiciary Police warned the public about a deepfake video circulating on social media that used AI to impersonate Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai. The manipulated footage falsely showed him endorsing fraudulent investment platforms. No victims have yet reported losses, but authorities urged caution against such scams. The police are monitoring online platforms and working with other authorities to trace the fraud networks.
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Racial bias in lung test software led to underdiagnosis of Black men, study suggests
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that race-based adjustments in diagnostic software for lung function likely led to underdiagnosis of breathing problems in Black men. Researchers analyzed data from over 2,700 Black men and 5,700 white men at the University of Pennsylvania Health System and concluded that up to 40% more Black men might have been diagnosed if the algorithm were changed. The American Thoracic Society has recommended replacing race-focused adjustments, but changes may take time.
- Company involved
- University of Pennsylvania Health System
2 source articles · read the reporting →
NYPD Facial Recognition Leads to Wrongful Arrest of Trevis Williams
In April 2025, Trevis Williams was arrested by the NYPD after a facial recognition program matched his mug shot to a suspect in a February flashing incident, despite an eight-inch height difference and alibi evidence. The victim identified him from the AI-suggested photo array. Mr. Williams spent over two days in jail before the case was dismissed in July. The incident highlights the risks of using facial recognition on low-quality surveillance images.
- Company involved
- New York Police Department
2 source articles · read the reporting →
West Midlands Police test NDAS system to assess crime risk
West Midlands Police are testing a system called the National Data Analytics Solution (NDAS) that analyses police data to assess the risk of individuals committing a crime or becoming a victim. The Home Office has funded the project with millions of pounds, intending to roll it out across England and Wales. Critics warn that the system could reinforce bias against minorities and undermine the presumption of innocence. The police say the technology is designed to support, not replace, officer decision-making and that it is still in early testing.
- Company involved
- West Midlands Police
- AI system involved
- National Data Analytics Solution
1 source article · 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 →
Las Vegas police used unsuitable facial recognition images in nearly half of searches
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) used 'non-suitable' probe images in 451 of 924 facial recognition searches in 2019, greatly increasing the risk of false identifications. The system, supplied by Vigilant Solutions, returned likely matches in only 18% of those searches, yet led to arrests in at least 73 cases. Critics and researchers warn this practice heightens the chance of wrongful arrests, and one defence attorney said he was never informed facial recognition was used to identify his client.
- Company involved
- Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
- AI system involved
- Vigilant Solutions facial recognition system
1 source article · read the reporting →
NYPD Used Facial Recognition to Target Black Lives Matter Activist Derrick Ingram
The NYPD used facial recognition technology to identify Derrick Ingram, a 28-year-old Black Lives Matter activist, leading to a raid on his Hell's Kitchen apartment by over 50 officers on 7 August 2020. The NYPD's Facial Identification Section generated a lead from a photo taken from Ingram's Instagram page, despite the department's policy of using only surveillance video or arrest photos. Ingram's attorney alleges the five-hour siege was an intimidation campaign that interfered with his constitutional rights. The NYPD acknowledged using facial recognition as a limited investigative tool.
- Company involved
- NYPD
- AI system involved
- Facial Identification Section
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Minor arrested in Palma for AI-generated nude images of schoolmates
A minor in Palma was arrested for allegedly using an AI application to generate realistic nude images of five female schoolmates from their clothed social media photos. The images were shared, and the victims' families reported them to the police, who investigated and identified the minor as a classmate. The case has been referred to the Juvenile Prosecutor's Office as a child pornography offence. The police noted that the images appeared real at first glance.
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Perplexity AI Misdiagnosis Leads to Man's Death After He Avoids Cancer Treatment
Benjamin Riley's father, a former neuroscientist, used Perplexity AI to self-diagnose his chronic lymphocytic leukemia and was incorrectly told he had Richter's Transformation, leading him to refuse his oncologist's recommended Ven-Obi treatment for a year. Despite his son's efforts to correct the misinformation by contacting the study authors, the father's condition worsened, and he eventually started treatment but died weeks later. The incident highlights the dangers of relying on AI for medical advice.
- Company involved
- Perplexity AI
- AI system involved
- Perplexity AI
1 source article · read the reporting →
AI image generation triggers psychosis in startup employee
Caitlin Ner, head of user experience at an unnamed AI image generation startup, spent up to nine hours a day generating AI images of herself. Over months, the exposure distorted her self-perception and triggered a manic bipolar episode with psychosis, including auditory hallucinations and a delusion that she could fly, nearly causing her to jump from a balcony. She left the startup, sought therapy, and recovered. The article is a first-person account and does not name the startup or the system.
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Imperial College AI stethoscope falsely identified heart failure in two-thirds of flagged patients
Researchers at Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust have developed an AI-powered stethoscope that analyses heart rhythms and performs an ECG, sending results to a doctor's smartphone. A study of more than 12,000 patients across the UK found that two-thirds of patients flagged as having heart failure did not actually have the condition. The researchers acknowledged that the false positives could cause unnecessary anxiety, and many GP surgeries stopped using or barely used the device after 12 months. The team plans to deploy the stethoscope more widely.
- Company involved
- Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
6 source articles · read the reporting →
British Museum faces backlash over AI-generated social media images
On January 27, 2026, the British Museum posted AI-generated images on its Instagram and Facebook accounts, appearing to show a woman contemplating exhibits. The images were not disclosed as AI-generated and contained cultural inaccuracies, sparking criticism from archaeologists and heritage professionals who warned of job threats and biased datasets. The museum removed the post and stated it would develop guidelines for AI use.
- Company involved
- British Museum
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Hallucination-laced TRO raises alarm bells on AI use by courts - Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
A generative AI tool drafted a temporary restraining order in Jackson Federation of Teachers v. Fitch containing fabricated parties, declarations, and statutory language, affecting the state of Mississippi and the plaintiffs.
- Company involved
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
1 source article · read the reporting →
AI-NOMIS data breach exposes thousands of AI-generated deepfake images
Cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler discovered a non-password-protected database belonging to South Korean AI company AI-NOMIS, containing nearly 100,000 records of AI-generated explicit images, including what appeared to be child sexual abuse material. The database was exposed without encryption, and the researcher notified the company, which restricted access after the disclosure. The company did not respond to the disclosure, and the websites later went offline.
- Company involved
- AI-NOMIS
- AI system involved
- GenNomis
5 source articles · read the reporting →
