AI transcription tool Otter.ai causes health data breach at Ontario hospital
A former physician at an Ontario hospital installed the Otter.ai transcription tool and gave it access to his digital calendar. Because his personal email was still on a meeting invite list, the AI agent autonomously joined a virtual hepatology round, transcribed it, and emailed the summary and transcript to 65 recipients. The transcript contained sensitive personal health information of seven patients. The hospital reported the breach to the Ontario IPC, took steps to contain it, and is implementing further safeguards.
- Company involved
- Unnamed hospital in Ontario
- AI system involved
- Otter.ai
6 source articles · read the reporting →
LAION's AI training dataset found to contain private medical photos without consent
An AI artist discovered her private medical photos from 2013 in the LAION-5B dataset, used to train AI image generators like Stable Diffusion. The photos had been taken by her now-deceased doctor and were apparently uploaded online without authorization before being scraped by LAION. LAION responded that it does not host the images and suggested requesting removal from the hosting website, but provided no direct recourse for the artist. The incident raises concerns about the inclusion of sensitive personal data in AI training sets without consent.
- Company involved
- LAION
- AI system involved
- LAION-5B
1 source article · read the reporting →
Woman Scammed by Deepfake Ad of Her Doctor for Fake Lipedema Cream
Beth Holland, who has lipedema, saw a Facebook ad for a cream called Svelta Venastra that appeared to be endorsed by her doctor and celebrities. The ad was an AI-generated deepfake, and she paid $300 for six bottles. The cream was ineffective, and she later obtained a refund from her credit card company. The incident is part of a rise in medical scams using deepfakes.
1 source article · read the reporting →
Cigna uses algorithm to deny medical claims without doctor review
Cigna, one of the largest health insurers, used an algorithm called PXDX to automatically deny medical claims. The system flagged mismatches between diagnoses and procedures, and company doctors signed off on denials in batches without reviewing patient files. One patient, Nick van Terheyden, was denied coverage for a $350 vitamin D test that his doctor had ordered. Former employees said the system saved Cigna billions of dollars but left patients with unexpected bills.
- Company involved
- Cigna
- AI system involved
- PXDX
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Deepfake video of Jack Tame used to scam people with diabetes
A deepfake video featuring TVNZ presenter Jack Tame and diabetes researcher Professor Rinki Murphy circulated online, falsely promoting a medical breakthrough. The video convinced people with diabetes to purchase a product and stop taking their medications. One victim, Steve Davis, paid $320 and has not received a refund. Health NZ warned the public about the scam, and police received an online report on April 30.
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Deloitte report for N.L. healthcare contains likely AI-generated false citations
Newfoundland and Labrador's $1.6 million Health Human Resources Plan, authored by Deloitte, contains at least four citations to research papers that do not exist, likely generated by artificial intelligence. The errors were discovered after the report was published by the Department of Health and Community Services in May. Researchers named in the false citations confirmed their work was misattributed and the papers are nonexistent. The provincial government and Deloitte have not responded to questions about the report.
- Company involved
- Deloitte
- AI system involved
- Azure OpenAI
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Deepfake videos of doctors used to peddle fake supplements, AMA warns
Deepfake videos impersonating trusted Australian doctors such as Dr Norman Swan and Professor Jonathan Shaw have been used to advertise unproven dietary supplements online. The Australian Medical Association warns that vulnerable people with serious health issues are being targeted by dodgy companies exploiting the technology. The AMA has written to the Minister for Communications urging mandatory identification of companies behind such videos and a takedown portal, and has criticised Meta for weakened content moderation.
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Montefiore Allegedly Plans to Replace Nurses with AI for Insurance Reviews
The New York State Nurses Association alleges that Montefiore Health System plans to lay off 12 utilization review nurses and replace them with AI-powered software from Datavant. The union warns that the move could compromise patient care by having AI review insurance denials without clinical judgement. Montefiore denies the claims, stating they are investing in technology for better outcomes. The plan has sparked a town hall and calls from elected officials to halt the layoffs.
- Company involved
- Montefiore Health System
3 source articles · read the reporting →
AI deepfakes of doctors used to scam diabetes patients in Australia
Scammers used AI-generated deepfake videos and fake interviews impersonating diabetes expert Professor Jonathan Shaw and other health professionals to promote a dietary supplement called Glyco Balance. The fraudulent ads falsely claimed the supplement, sold by Vellec Group, was developed at the Baker Institute and that commonly prescribed diabetes medication is dangerous. One victim, Michael, purchased the supplement for $340 before realising it was a scam. The Therapeutic Goods Administration is assessing the situation, and Meta removed the fake video after the Baker Institute reported it.
- Company involved
- Vellec Group
- AI system involved
- Generative AI for deepfake video creation
1 source article · read the reporting →
CMS warns insurers against using AI to deny Medicare Advantage care
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) clarified that health insurers cannot use algorithms or AI to deny care to Medicare Advantage members. This follows lawsuits alleging UnitedHealth and Humana used an AI tool, nH Predict, to wrongfully deny post-acute care to elderly patients. The tool reportedly produced rigid estimates ignoring individual patient needs, leading to premature denials. CMS warned that non-compliance could result in penalties and increased audits.
- Company involved
- UnitedHealth, Humana
- AI system involved
- nH Predict
10 source articles · read the reporting →
AI Deepfakes Impersonate Doctors to Spread Health Misinformation on Social Media
AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating real doctors have been spreading health misinformation and selling unproven supplements on social media. Factcheckers uncovered hundreds of manipulated videos using altered footage of respected health experts. The delayed removal of this content highlights challenges in detection and accountability. Public health communicators are urged to address false credibility and guide audiences toward evidence-based information.
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust warns of AI-generated fake doctor weight loss videos
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust issued an alert after AI-generated videos on social media falsely showed its doctors endorsing weight loss patches. The videos, found on Facebook and TikTok, are fraudulent and the trust is working to have them taken down. A financial crime expert said the scam aims to sell a herbal product by bypassing rational responses. The BBC contacted the company behind the products but received no response.
1 source article · read the reporting →
Durham Police uses Experian Mosaic data in HART AI risk tool
Durham Constabulary developed the Harm Assessment Risk Tool (HART), a machine learning algorithm that assesses the recidivism risk of offenders. The tool uses 34 data categories including criminal history, age, gender and two types of postcode, one sourced from Experian's Mosaic marketing segmentation system. Big Brother Watch alleges that using such commercial consumer behaviour data to inform custody decisions risks prejudice and disproportionate targeting of deprived neighbourhoods. The force has stated it is refreshing the model with an aim to remove one of the postcode predictors.
- Company involved
- Durham Constabulary
- AI system involved
- Harm Assessment Risk Tool (HART)
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Idaho Medicaid used secret formula to cut assistance for disabled adults
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare used a secret formula to drastically cut Medicaid assistance for adults with developmental disabilities, claiming the formula was a trade secret. The ACLU of Idaho filed a class action lawsuit, K.W. v. Armstrong, in 2012, alleging the cuts violated due process. A federal court struck down the formula in 2016 and ordered a new system, but as of 2024, a fair system has not yet been implemented.
- Company involved
- Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Otago professor's likeness used in AI deepfake diabetes scam
A deepfake video and false online story manipulated the likeness of University of Otago professor Sir Jim Mann to promote a diabetes product. The AI-generated advertisements urged people with type 2 diabetes to stop taking their medication Metformin and instead buy alternative natural products. Professor Mann was alerted to the scam and expressed deep concern that patients who trust him may become sick after being misled. The university and law enforcement are investigating.
- Company involved
- Smart Hemp Gummies
- AI system involved
- Glyco Balance
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Babylon Health attacks clinician who raised safety concerns about its AI chatbot
Dr David Watkins, a consultant oncologist, publicly raised concerns about Babylon Health's symptom triage chatbot, alleging it missed critical conditions such as heart attacks in women. Babylon Health issued a press release attacking Watkins as a 'troll' and manipulating data to discredit his testing. Watkins denies the claims and has filed complaints with the MHRA, which remain pending.
- Company involved
- Babylon Health
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Nurse at St. Rose Dominican Hospital Averts AI-Sepsis Alert Error
A nurse at St. Rose Dominican Hospital in Henderson, Nevada, refused to follow an AI-generated sepsis alert that would have given an elderly dialysis patient IV fluids, which could have caused a life-threatening complication. The alert, part of the hospital's electronic system, prompted a charge nurse to order the fluids despite the patient's compromised kidneys. A physician intervened and ordered dopamine instead, averting harm. The incident highlights concerns about AI tools overriding clinical judgment.
- Company involved
- St. Rose Dominican Hospital
1 source article · read the reporting →
Photographer sues LAION e.V. over refusal to remove copyrighted images from AI training dataset
Photographer Robert Kneschke requested that LAION e.V. remove his copyrighted images from its LAION-5B dataset used to train AI image generators. LAION refused, claiming the use was covered by copyright exceptions, and demanded €887.03 in legal costs from Kneschke. Kneschke, through his lawyer, then filed a lawsuit at the Landgericht Hamburg against LAION, alleging copyright infringement and seeking removal and information.
- Company involved
- LAION e.V.
- AI system involved
- LAION-5B dataset
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Texas AG Settles with Pieces Technologies Over Deceptive Healthcare AI Claims
The Texas Attorney General investigated Pieces Technologies, a Dallas-based healthcare AI company, for making false and misleading statements about the accuracy of its generative AI product used in hospitals. The company claimed an error rate of less than 1 per 100,000, but the investigation found these metrics were likely inaccurate. As part of the settlement, Pieces agreed to accurately disclose its product's accuracy and ensure hospital staff understand the appropriate reliance on its AI. The case marks the first-of-its-kind healthcare generative AI investigation by the AG.
- Company involved
- Pieces Technologies
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Hangzhou plans permanent health codes with scoring, sparking privacy backlash
Hangzhou health authorities announced plans to launch a permanent health-tracking QR code system that would assign residents a color and numerical score based on medical records and lifestyle choices. The proposal, an expansion of the existing COVID-19 health code system, has sparked online backlash over privacy concerns and fears of discrimination. Critics argue that the system could lead to public exposure of personal health data and potential misuse by employers. The authorities aim to complete the project by May or June 2020.
- Company involved
- Hangzhou Health Authorities
- AI system involved
- Health Code
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Hospitals use Epic AI to predict Covid-19 decline without validation
Dozens of hospitals across the US are using Epic's deterioration index AI system to predict which Covid-19 patients will become critically ill, despite the tool not being validated for the new disease. The rapid deployment during the pandemic bypassed normal testing and validation processes.
- AI system involved
- Deterioration index
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Google and HCA Healthcare partner to analyze 32 million patient records
Google Cloud has announced a partnership with HCA Healthcare to analyze around 32 million patient records. The anonymized data will be used to develop algorithms that could advise doctors on treatment options. Privacy advocates have raised concerns about the data sharing and the potential for AI to re-identify patients. HCA insists that patient-identifiable information will be stripped and that access will be tightly controlled.
- Company involved
- HCA Healthcare
- AI system involved
- Google Cloud
9 source articles · read the reporting →
University of Chicago report finds US healthcare algorithms rife with bias
A University of Chicago report alleges that algorithms used by hospitals, insurers and other businesses across the US are biased along racial and economic lines. The algorithms help triage patients, predict diabetes and flag those needing extra care, but the report says flawed products were introduced with little oversight. It says inequitable treatment has continued for more than a decade.
7 source articles · read the reporting →
Denmark's Udbetaling Danmark welfare algorithm illegally surveilled millions
Udbetaling Danmark (UDK), Denmark's centralized welfare payment agency, used automated algorithms to check eligibility and detect fraud. The system collected personal data on millions of beneficiaries and their relatives, including non-beneficiaries, in what a think-tank called 'systematic surveillance'. A complaint to the Danish Data Protection Authority led to a ruling that the data collection violated GDPR, and UDK eventually deleted the illegally obtained data. The system also caused erroneous payments, including underpaying 300,000 pensioners by 94 million euros annually.
- Company involved
- Udbetaling Danmark
10 source articles · read the reporting →
