The public 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.

Self-reported incidents, a person’s own public post or an account given to us, are listed but locked; subscribers open each one with credits. Reports filed through this site are listed only with the reporter’s agreement.

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4,459 incidentspress and self-reported

Page 96 of 186

Press reportingSelf-reported: a person’s own public post · 10 creditsSelf-reported: told to us directly · 25 credits

WF-DYTSSYHappened 24 May 2021Live 5 Oct 2026
Lemonade backtracks on tweet claiming AI scans customer faces for fraud
Lemonade, an insurance firm, posted a tweet claiming it uses AI to detect non-verbal cues in customer videos to deny claims. After backlash comparing the practice to phrenology, the company deleted the tweet and denied using AI to deny claims based on facial characteristics. Lemonade stated it uses facial recognition only to flag claims submitted under different identities, which are then reviewed by human investigators.
Company
Lemonade
10 source articlesfortune.com
WF-15ZUXSLive 5 Oct 2026
Former Hall County deputy arrested for allegedly misusing Flock camera system, GBI says - Atlanta News First
License plate reader system used for non-law enforcement purposes
Company
Hall County Sheriff's Office
AI system
Flock
1 source articleatlantanewsfirst.com
WF-56EGDDLive 5 Oct 2026
Georgetown researchers use GPT-3 to generate convincing misinformation
Researchers at Georgetown University's Center for Security and Emerging Technology trained OpenAI's GPT-3 to generate convincing misinformation. In tests, users exposed to AI-generated messages opposing sanctions on China doubled their opposition to sanctions. The research demonstrates the potential for AI to spread disinformation.
Company
Georgetown University
AI system
GPT-3
10 source articlesgovtech.com
WF-DRQQPRLive 5 Oct 2026
Study finds Italian car insurers charge more based on birthplace
A study by the Universities of Padua, Udine and Carnegie Mellon found that Italian car insurers, including Genertel, Mps, Quixa and Con.Te, use birthplace and citizenship in pricing algorithms, charging some drivers over €1,000 more. The practice was ruled against in a 2018 decree involving Linear, but the study says it continues. The companies contacted denied or explained the findings.
Company
Genertel, Mps, Quixa, Con.Te
8 source articlesalgorithmwatch.org
WF-YQ3F4OHappened 1 Nov 2015Live 5 Oct 2026
Airbnb smart-pricing algorithm increased racial revenue gap, study finds
A study by Carnegie Mellon University found that Airbnb's smart-pricing algorithm increased the revenue gap between White and Black hosts, even though it narrowed the gap among hosts who adopted it. The algorithm, which sets daily prices automatically, was adopted by fewer Black hosts, so its suggested prices were closer to the optimum for White hosts. The researchers said the tool could reduce racial disparities only if more Black hosts adopted it.
Company
Airbnb
AI system
Airbnb smart-pricing algorithm
10 source articlescmu.edu
WF-RZPEIYHappened 10 Jun 2024Live 5 Oct 2026
Apple launches official site for iPhone users to claim cash from $250M AI settlement - UNILAD Tech
Apple advertised iPhones as ready for AI features that were not delivered, affecting purchasers.
Company
Apple
AI system
Apple Intelligence
1 source articleuniladtech.com
WF-O8NHQFHappened 18 May 2021Live 5 Oct 2026
Google's dermatology app underrepresents dark skin tones in training data
Google unveiled a dermatology app that uses deep learning to recognise skin conditions. However, the training data included only 3.5% images from patients with darker skin types, which may lead to inaccurate diagnoses for these groups. Dermatologists have expressed concern that the app could cause false positives or missed diagnoses, and Google has acknowledged the issue while saying it will continue to refine the technology.
Company
Google
AI system
AI-powered dermatology assist tool
9 source articlesvice.com
WF-FST9Z6Happened 1 Apr 2018Live 5 Oct 2026
ViaQuatro's facial recognition system in São Paulo metro challenged in court
In April 2018, ViaQuatro installed the Digital Interactive Doors System, developed by AdMobilize, on the São Paulo metro's yellow line. The system used cameras to detect passengers' faces and claimed to infer their emotion, age, and gender in order to target advertisements. The Brazilian Institute of Consumer Protection (IDEC) filed a public civil action alleging that the system violated consumer and data protection laws by processing biometric data without consent and making pseudoscientific and discriminatory inferences. A judge ordered the cameras removed in August 2018, and the case is pending a final ruling.
Company
ViaQuatro
AI system
Digital Interactive Doors System (DID system)
10 source articlesaccessnow.org
WF-QY1Y0BHappened 1 May 2021Live 5 Oct 2026
Fake accounts boosted Chinese diplomats on Twitter
An investigation by the Associated Press and Oxford Internet Institute found that an army of fake accounts retweeted Chinese diplomats and state media tens of thousands of times on Twitter, artificially amplifying their messages. The accounts were suspended by Twitter for violating platform rules against manipulation. The Chinese foreign ministry denied using trickery on social media.
9 source articlesapnews.com
WF-Z58XVIHappened 1 May 2021Live 5 Oct 2026
Meta's content moderation errors during May 2021 Israel-Palestine escalation
During the May 2021 escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine, Meta's automated content moderation systems temporarily restricted access to the al-Aqsa hashtag page and under-enforced rules against incitement to violence against Israelis and Jews. An independent due diligence report commissioned by Meta found that these systems had an unintentional impact on Palestinian and Arab communities' freedom of expression. Meta has committed to implementing several recommendations, including improving machine learning classifiers and keyword review processes.
Company
Meta
AI system
Facebook and Instagram content moderation systems
10 source articlesabout.fb.com
WF-88TTTLHappened 5 Apr 2018Live 5 Oct 2026
Immigration NZ uses data model to predict likely troublemakers among overstayers
Immigration New Zealand has been piloting a data modelling system that uses demographic information such as age, gender, and ethnicity of overstayers to predict which individuals are likely to commit crime or incur hospital debts. The system then targets those individuals for accelerated deportation. Critics, including immigration lawyers and a lobby group, have likened the programme to 'Minority Report' and allege it amounts to racial profiling. Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway only learned of the programme on the day of the article and said he would seek a full briefing, but maintained it is not racial profiling and does not breach the Human Rights Act.
Company
Immigration New Zealand
10 source articlesrnz.co.nz
WF-8M6R57Happened 20 Apr 2020Live 5 Oct 2026
Facebook allowed advertisers to target users interested in pseudoscience
The Markup found that Facebook's ad-targeting system was allowing advertisers to reach users classified as interested in 'pseudoscience', a category with more than 78 million people. The Markup paid to run an ad targeting that category and Facebook approved it, despite promising to take down COVID-19 misinformation. After being contacted by The Markup, Facebook removed the interest category.
Company
Facebook
AI system
Facebook Ads Manager
10 source articlesthemarkup.org
WF-EYILWOHappened 18 Sep 2026Live 5 Oct 2026
The Google Maps Effect: How a Navigation App Error Caused Chaos on a Single-Track Road - autoevolution
The navigation app routed drivers onto a single-track road, causing traffic jams and safety hazards for local residents and drivers.
Company
Google
AI system
Google Maps
1 source articleautoevolution.com
WF-VL1OZPLive 5 Oct 2026
Dartmouth Medical School charges 17 students with cheating based on tracking system.
Dartmouth College's Geisel School of Medicine charged 17 students with cheating on remote exams during the pandemic. The charges were based on secret tracking of student activity on the learning management system. Critics say the system is prone to errors and inappropriate for monitoring students.
Company
Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine
10 source articlesinsidehighered.com
WF-15ED3IHappened 4 May 2021Live 5 Oct 2026
Man rides in back seat of Tesla using autopilot on Bay Area roads
A man was recorded sitting in the back seat of a Tesla Model 3 while it drove on autopilot with no one in the driver's seat on Bay Area roads. The video was shared online and the California Highway Patrol is investigating. A witness who reported the incident said Tesla customer service told him to contact CHP, and CHP initially said there was nothing they could do. The stunt highlights concerns about Tesla's autopilot feature being used without a driver.
Company
Tesla
AI system
Tesla Autopilot
9 source articlessfgate.com
WF-CHYBEELive 5 Oct 2026
Facebook approved harmful ads targeting teens in TTP experiment
The Tech Transparency Project (TTP) submitted six test ads to Facebook promoting pill parties, anorexia, alcohol, smoking, gambling, and dating services, targeting users aged 13-17. Facebook approved all ads within hours, despite its policies prohibiting such content. The ads never ran as TTP did not allow them to be published. Facebook stated it has measures in place to review ads.
Company
Facebook
AI system
Facebook Ads
10 source articlestechtransparencyproject.org
WF-MY2LEIHappened 1 May 2018Live 5 Oct 2026
TikTok fined £12.7m for failing to protect children's data privacy
The UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) fined TikTok £12.7m for allowing up to 1.4 million children under 13 to use the platform between May 2018 and July 2020 without parental consent. The ICO found that TikTok collected and used children's data for profiling and targeting advertising, potentially exposing them to harmful content. TikTok has disputed the decision and is considering an appeal, and the fine was reduced from an initial proposed £27m.
Company
TikTok
AI system
TikTok
9 source articlesbbc.co.uk
WF-IEVM25Happened 16 Mar 2021Live 5 Oct 2026
Facebook Allowed Age-Targeted Credit Card Ads Violating Its Policy
The Markup found that four companies—Aspiration, Hometap, Chime, and Varo Bank—ran Facebook ads for credit cards and home equity loans that were targeted by age, excluding users under 25 or 35. This practice violates Facebook's own anti-discrimination policy and may violate the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and California's Unruh Civil Rights Act. Facebook did not respond to requests for comment, and some advertisers said they would review their ad targeting.
Company
Facebook
AI system
Facebook Ad Platform
9 source articlesthemarkup.org
WF-U7W6GLHappened 1 Apr 2020Live 5 Oct 2026
Facebook approved ads with coronavirus misinformation in test
Consumer Reports conducted a test in which they created seven Facebook ads containing false and dangerous coronavirus claims, including one encouraging people to drink bleach. Facebook's automated ad screening system approved all seven ads. After Consumer Reports contacted Facebook, the company disabled the test account and acknowledged the ads violated its policies. The ads were not published to the public.
Company
Facebook
8 source articlesconsumerreports.org
WF-DWS7BYHappened 2 Nov 2025Live 5 Oct 2026
'Tell Everyone:' A Man Died by Suicide After Talking to ChatGPT. His Former Partner Wants to Warn the World About…
The chatbot encouraged Austin Gordon to commit suicide.
Company
OpenAI
AI system
ChatGPT
1 source article404media.co
WF-SQJYDZHappened 22 Oct 2020Live 5 Oct 2026
CBSE introduces facial recognition system for students to access digital documents
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced a facial recognition system for Class 10 and 12 students to access their digital academic documents. A live image of the student is compared with the photograph on their CBSE admit card and, if the match succeeds, the certificate is emailed to them. The facility is available on Digi Locker for 2020 records and is expected to help foreign students and those unable to open a Digi Locker account.
Company
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
AI system
Facial Recognition System
10 source articleshindustantimes.com
WF-AQO8NULive 5 Oct 2026
Jacobs files BIPA class action against Walgreen Company over fingerprint scanning
A class action lawsuit alleges that Walgreen Company (Walgreens) collected and stored employees' fingerprint data without obtaining informed consent, in violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). The plaintiff, Jacobs, claims the company used fingerprint scanners for employee timekeeping without providing required disclosures or obtaining written consent. The case is pending in Illinois state court.
Company
Walgreen Company
AI system
Fingerprint time clock
7 source articlesclassaction.org
WF-NQBVJ7Live 5 Oct 2026
IRCC uses AI triage for Temporary Resident Visa applications
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses an AI system called Advanced Analytics to triage Temporary Resident Visa applications from India and China. The system categorizes applications into tiers, with Tier 1 approved automatically and others sent to human officers. Critics allege the system lacks transparency and may introduce bias, leading to visa refusals without clear rationale. The author, a Canadian immigration lawyer, is filing Federal Court cases on behalf of clients affected by refusals.
Company
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
AI system
Advanced Analytics Triage of Overseas Temporary Resident Visa Applications
10 source articlesheronlaw.ca
WF-KWD2HVHappened 20 Nov 2020Live 5 Oct 2026
Google's secret blocklist fails to block many hate terms on YouTube ads
The Markup investigated Google's secret blocklist that hides YouTube hate videos from advertisers. They found that less than a third of 86 hate-related terms were blocked, allowing advertisers to potentially place ads on White nationalist and neo-Nazi content. Google acknowledged the issue and blocked additional terms after being contacted, but some terms remained unblocked.
Company
Google
AI system
Google Ads blocklist
10 source articlesthemarkup.org

Each incident is written from the reporting or the account it cites. A report is an allegation, not a finding.

Lemonade backtracks on tweet claiming AI scans customer faces for fraud

Former Hall County deputy arrested for allegedly misusing Flock camera system, GBI says - Atlanta News First

Georgetown researchers use GPT-3 to generate convincing misinformation

Study finds Italian car insurers charge more based on birthplace

Airbnb smart-pricing algorithm increased racial revenue gap, study finds

Apple launches official site for iPhone users to claim cash from $250M AI settlement - UNILAD Tech

Google's dermatology app underrepresents dark skin tones in training data

ViaQuatro's facial recognition system in São Paulo metro challenged in court

Fake accounts boosted Chinese diplomats on Twitter

Meta's content moderation errors during May 2021 Israel-Palestine escalation

Immigration NZ uses data model to predict likely troublemakers among overstayers

Facebook allowed advertisers to target users interested in pseudoscience

The Google Maps Effect: How a Navigation App Error Caused Chaos on a Single-Track Road - autoevolution

Dartmouth Medical School charges 17 students with cheating based on tracking system.

Man rides in back seat of Tesla using autopilot on Bay Area roads

Facebook approved harmful ads targeting teens in TTP experiment

TikTok fined £12.7m for failing to protect children's data privacy

Facebook Allowed Age-Targeted Credit Card Ads Violating Its Policy

Facebook approved ads with coronavirus misinformation in test

'Tell Everyone:' A Man Died by Suicide After Talking to ChatGPT. His Former Partner Wants to Warn the World About…

CBSE introduces facial recognition system for students to access digital documents

Jacobs files BIPA class action against Walgreen Company over fingerprint scanning

IRCC uses AI triage for Temporary Resident Visa applications

Google's secret blocklist fails to block many hate terms on YouTube ads