Penn Medicine study: kidney algorithm reduced Black transplant access
For years, a clinical algorithm used for the national kidney transplant waitlist made Black patients appear healthier than they were, making it harder for them to secure transplant spots. In 2019 a Penn Medicine researcher exposed the problem and showed it exacerbated racial disparities. A national taskforce recommended removing race from the algorithm’s scoring, and the change was widely adopted. Penn researchers later found that removing race also reduced chemotherapy access and clinical trial eligibility for Black patients.
- AI system involved
- kidney function algorithm
1 source article · read the reporting →
VA's Suicide Prevention Algorithm Favours Men, Ignores Sexual Trauma
The Department of Veterans Affairs' REACH VET algorithm, designed to identify veterans at high risk of suicide, reportedly prioritises white men and excludes factors like military sexual trauma that disproportionately affect women. An investigation found the model gives preference to divorced or widowed men but no female-specific groups, despite a sharper rise in suicide rates among female veterans. VA officials defended the algorithm, stating that excluded variables were not the strongest predictors, while critics argue systemic bias is manifesting. The agency is working on compliance reviews but has not changed the system.
- Company involved
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- AI system involved
- REACH VET
2 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 →
Moonwell loses $1.78M after AI-generated code from Claude Opus 4.6 causes oracle pricing error
DeFi lending protocol Moonwell lost $1.78 million after an oracle pricing error in smart contract code partially written by Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.6 model. The error valued cbETH at approximately $1.12 per token instead of its actual market price of nearly $2,200, triggering instant liquidations. Moonwell contained the issue by reducing the cbETH borrow cap, but users suffered catastrophic losses. The incident has sparked debate about the risks of AI-generated code in smart contracts.
- Company involved
- Moonwell
- AI system involved
- Claude Opus 4.6
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Allegheny County child neglect screening algorithm shows racial disparities
The Allegheny Family Screening Tool, an algorithm used to screen child neglect reports, has been found to flag a disproportionate number of Black children for mandatory investigation compared to white children. A technical glitch also presented wrong risk scores for over two years. County officials say social workers can override the algorithm and that the glitch has been fixed, but critics argue the tool hardens racial disparities and lacks transparency.
- Company involved
- Allegheny County Department of Human Services
- AI system involved
- Allegheny Family Screening Tool
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Arkansas algorithm slashed home care for disabled people, causing suffering
In Arkansas and other states, algorithms were used to allocate home care hours for disabled and elderly people, replacing nurse judgments. The system assigned hours based on a scoring tool that failed to account for specific disabilities, leading to drastic cuts. Many suffered severe harm, including bed sores, missed meals, and one death. After lawsuits, Arkansas's system was thrown out in 2018, and Idaho's was declared unconstitutional.
- Company involved
- Arkansas state government
1 source article · 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 →
Target's pregnancy prediction algorithm reveals teen's pregnancy to father
Target used a data mining algorithm to predict when customers were pregnant based on their purchases. The algorithm sent baby product coupons to a high school student, leading her father to complain to the store. The father later learned his daughter was indeed pregnant. Target subsequently altered the coupons to disguise the data mining.
- Company involved
- Target
- AI system involved
- Target pregnancy prediction algorithm
9 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 →
CNAF algorithm flags single mother Juliette for welfare fraud investigation
In 2022, Juliette, a single mother on welfare in France, was flagged by CNAF's secretive fraud detection algorithm. A fraud investigator later determined she owed thousands of euros, which were deducted from her monthly payments. The algorithm, which scores half of France's population, is accused of discriminating against vulnerable people by using factors like single parenthood and low income.
- Company involved
- CNAF
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Poland's Ministry of Labor profiles unemployed with discriminatory algorithm
In May 2015, Poland's Ministry of Labor and Social Policy introduced an algorithmic system to profile unemployed people into three categories based on their readiness to work, location, and disabilities. The system is accused of being discriminatory and lacking transparency, as it uses default criteria that may lead to social exclusion. A report by the Panoptykon Foundation in October 2015 highlighted these issues and recommended reforms, including granting the right to appeal.
- Company involved
- Ministry of Labor and Social Policy
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Commonwealth Bank worker made redundant after unknowingly training AI chatbot to replace her
Kathryn Sullivan, a 63-year-old Commonwealth Bank teller, was made redundant in July 2025 after spending years training the bank's 'Bumblebee' chatbot to respond to customers. She was unaware that she was helping the AI replace her own role. Sullivan confronted CEO Matt Comyn at the bank's AGM in Brisbane, where chairman Paul O'Malley acknowledged the bank had made a mistake. The Finance Sector Union had brought a case before the Fair Work Commission, resulting in some jobs being offered back, but not all.
- Company involved
- Commonwealth Bank
- AI system involved
- Bumblebee
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Upstart Holdings sued for securities fraud over AI model claims
Upstart Holdings, Inc., a cloud-based AI lending platform, is accused of making false and misleading statements about its AI model's ability to account for macroeconomic factors. The lawsuit, filed on May 13, 2022, alleges that the company's positive statements about its business were materially false. Investors suffered losses when Upstart's stock price fell 56% on May 9, 2022, after the company reduced its fiscal 2022 guidance.
- Company involved
- Upstart Holdings, Inc.
- AI system involved
- Upstart AI lending platform
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Oregon child welfare agency stops using algorithm to screen families for investigations
The Oregon Department of Human Services announced it will stop using its Safety at Screening Tool algorithm, which helped hotline workers decide which families to investigate for child abuse and neglect. The decision followed concerns about racial bias and disparities, as the algorithm was inspired by a Pennsylvania tool that had flagged a disproportionate number of Black children. The agency will replace the algorithm with a new Structured Decision Making model.
- Company involved
- Oregon Department of Human Services
- AI system involved
- Safety at Screening Tool
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Instacart's rating and fraud detection system unfairly penalizes shoppers
Instacart shoppers allege that the company's automated rating and fraud detection system unfairly penalizes them for issues outside their control, such as customer fraud. The system assigns low ratings and blames shoppers for missing items, leading to reduced pay and deactivation. The Gig Workers Collective has sent an open letter to CEO Fidji Simo demanding changes including higher base pay, item commission, and occupational death benefits.
- Company involved
- Instacart
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Tenant screening software denies housing to disabled Latino man in Connecticut
In 2016, Carmen Arroyo requested to move her disabled son Mikhail into a larger apartment in the same complex. The landlord, WinnResidential, used CoreLogic's CrimSafe tenant screening software, which flagged a dropped retail theft charge against Mikhail as disqualifying. The landlord rejected the application without explanation. Arroyo sued CoreLogic and WinnResidential under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Fair Housing Act, alleging that the software disproportionately excludes people of colour. The case was scheduled for trial in August 2021.
- Company involved
- WinnResidential
- AI system involved
- CrimSafe
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Scottish Prison Service freed eight life prisoners due to risk assessment system error
The Scottish Prison Service's Level of Service and Case Management System failed to update risk assessments when new information was entered, leading to incorrect risk scores for 495 closed cases and 285 open cases. As a result, eight prisoners serving life for murder or rape were granted temporary release without accurate risk assessments. Justice Secretary Keith Brown acknowledged the error and stated that the cases would be reviewed. Opposition politicians called for an apology, claiming the releases put the public at risk.
- Company involved
- Scottish Prison Service
- AI system involved
- Level of Service and Case Management System
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Dutch Tax Authority discriminated against dual nationality applicants for child care benefits using automated risk system.
The Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) found that the Benefits Department of the Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst) unlawfully processed the dual nationality of 1.4 million applicants for child care benefits. The data was used as an indicator in an automated risk-scoring system that flagged applications as high-risk, which was unnecessary and discriminatory. The AP concluded that the processing violated the GDPR and was discriminatory. The AP completed its fact-finding and will consider imposing a sanction.
- Company involved
- Belastingdienst
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Adoption algorithm Family-Match produced limited results in multiple states
The AI-powered adoption algorithm Family-Match, developed by Adoption-Share and designed by former eharmony researchers, has produced limited results in states where it was used. Social workers reported that the tool often matched children with unwilling families and failed to generate successful adoptions. Virginia, Georgia, and Tennessee dropped or paused the algorithm after trials, though some later resumed use. The algorithm's creator, Thea Ramirez, disputed the accounts and said the tool is a starting point for social workers.
- Company involved
- Adoption-Share
- AI system involved
- Family-Match
7 source articles · read the reporting →
Washington Post uses algorithm to set subscription prices based on personal data
The Washington Post is accused of using an algorithm to set subscription prices based on subscribers' personal data. Some subscribers received emails stating that their new price was determined by an algorithm using their personal data. The practice, known as surveillance pricing, has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers who have proposed legislation to ban it.
- Company involved
- Washington Post
6 source articles · read the reporting →
UK Ministry of Justice secretly develops murder prediction system
The UK Ministry of Justice is developing the Homicide Prediction Project, a system that uses police and government data to profile hundreds of thousands of people, including suspects, victims, and vulnerable individuals, to predict who will commit murder. The project, a collaboration with the Home Office, Greater Manchester Police, and the Metropolitan Police, uses sensitive personal data such as mental health and addiction records. Concerns have been raised that the system will reinforce structural discrimination against racialised and low-income communities.
- Company involved
- Ministry of Justice
- AI system involved
- Homicide Prediction Project
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Illinois DCFS ends unreliable predictive analytics program for child abuse risk
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services ended its Rapid Safety Feedback program, which used data mining to predict child abuse risk, after the agency's director called the technology unreliable. The system, developed by Eckerd Connects and Mindshare Technology, assigned risk scores to children but failed to flag several high-profile child deaths. The program was also criticised for overwhelming caseworkers with alerts and for potential bias against poor children of colour. DCFS decided not to renew the contract.
- Company involved
- Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
- AI system involved
- Rapid Safety Feedback
10 source articles · read the reporting →
DOJ examines Allegheny County child welfare AI screening tool for disability bias
The Justice Department is scrutinizing the Allegheny Family Screening Tool, an AI system used by Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, to assess risk for families reported for child welfare concerns. A father with an intellectual disability, represented by attorney Robin Frank, filed a complaint alleging the algorithm discriminates against families with disabilities by using disability-related data points. The county denies awareness of concerns and says the tool helps predict risk, but critics argue it hardens bias. The DOJ's Civil Rights Division is investigating.
- Company involved
- Allegheny County Department of Human Services
- AI system involved
- Allegheny Family Screening Tool
5 source articles · read the reporting →
