CPS apologises after AI generates fake legal citations in court documents
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) used generative AI to draft court documents for extradition appeals, resulting in the inclusion of non-existent legal authorities. The error was identified by opposing counsel before the hearing and had no impact on the outcome. The CPS apologised to the High Court, attributing the mistake to a failure by a reviewing lawyer to verify the AI-generated content, and undertook an internal review to prevent recurrence. The judge accepted the apology and noted the serious risks of using AI without proper oversight.
- Company involved
- Crown Prosecution Service
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 →
South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal Considers Sassa Algorithm Case
Верховный апелляционный суд ЮАР рассмотрел дело об алгоритмах Sassa - UA.NEWS
The Supreme Court of Appeal heard an appeal on 25 August about Sassa's digital application system for the SRD grant. The system only accepts online applications and uses automated bank account checks that may deny grants to people whose accounts receive deposits that are not regular income. The Global Center on AI Governance submitted that automated decisions must uphold constitutional rights and be fair, non-discriminatory, and suited to South Africa's informal economy.
- Company involved
- South African Social Security Agency (Sassa)
- AI system involved
- Sassa digital application system
1 source article · 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 →
Australian Research Council faces allegations of ChatGPT use in peer review
The Australian Research Council is facing allegations that some peer reviewers used ChatGPT to write assessor reports for Discovery Project grant proposals. Researchers reported generic wording and even the phrase 'Regenerate response' in feedback, suggesting AI generation. One researcher's complaint led to the removal of the report, and the education minister called the use unacceptable, instructing the ARC to prevent it. The ARC stated that peer reviewers should not use AI and that confidentiality policies apply.
- Company involved
- Australian Research Council
- AI system involved
- ChatGPT
2 source articles · read the reporting →
NSW Reconstruction Authority data breach exposes 2031 people's info via ChatGPT
A former temporary staff member of the NSW Reconstruction Authority uploaded personal information of 2031 Northern Rivers Resilient Homes Program applicants to ChatGPT without authorisation. The data included names, contact details, dates of birth, and sensitive health information. The breach occurred between 12 and 15 March 2025. The authority has notified affected individuals, reported the breach to the NSW Privacy Commissioner, and implemented measures to prevent future unauthorised use of AI tools.
- Company involved
- NSW Reconstruction Authority
- AI system involved
- ChatGPT
2 source articles · 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 →
Royal Free London publishes audit into Streams app data processing
The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust published an audit into its use of the Streams app, following an investigation by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) in July 2017. The Streams app alerts clinicians to patients at risk of acute kidney injury. The audit, conducted by Linklaters, concluded that the trust's use of Streams was lawful and complied with data protection laws, although areas for improvement were identified. The ICO later recognised that the trust had completed all required actions.
- Company involved
- Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
- AI system involved
- Streams
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Hassan v ABC International Bank (Employment Tribunals): AI-hallucinated content in court filing, Costs Order
The AI generated fabricated legal citations that the claimant submitted to the tribunal, resulting in a costs order against the claimant.
1 source article · read the reporting →
Jordan's National Aid Fund Algorithm Denies Cash Assistance to Vulnerable Households
Human Rights Watch reported that Jordan’s Takaful cash transfer programme, run by the National Aid Fund and financed by the World Bank, uses an algorithm to rank households by estimated economic vulnerability and select recipients. The report found that the algorithm relies on inaccurate self-reported income and questionable indicators such as car ownership and utility use, causing eligible poor families to be denied benefits or receive reduced payments. The World Bank and NAF defended the programme and its targeting approach.
- Company involved
- National Aid Fund (NAF)
- AI system involved
- Takaful (Unified Cash Transfer Program)
3 source articles · 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 →
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 →
France: CNAF's discriminatory risk-scoring algorithm must be stopped
Amnesty International and coalition partners filed a complaint with the Council of State against CNAF's risk-scoring algorithm used to detect benefit overpayments. The algorithm assigns risk scores based on criteria that discriminate against vulnerable groups, including those with disabilities, single parents, and low-income households. The complaint alleges the system violates human rights to equality and privacy. The EU AI Act's social scoring ban may apply, but its definition remains unclear.
- Company involved
- CNAF
2 source articles · read the reporting →
DWP's Universal Credit algorithm causes underpayment and hardship for claimants
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) uses an automated means-testing algorithm in its Universal Credit system that miscalculates earnings due to a design flaw, leading to underpayments and fluctuating benefit amounts. Claimants such as Janet R. received payments hundreds of pounds short, forcing them into debt and foodbank use. A Court of Appeal ruling in June 2020 ordered the DWP to fix the flaw, but the department had not yet fully implemented the remedy at the time of writing.
- Company involved
- Department for Work and Pensions
- AI system involved
- Universal Credit
10 source articles · read the reporting →
UK councils use Covid OneView AI to harvest personal data for risk scoring
UK local authorities are using a system called Covid OneView, developed by data analytics firm Xantura, to harvest millions of personal details from council records. The system uses predictive analytics and AI to assign risk scores to households and individuals, aiming to identify those vulnerable to Covid or likely to break lockdown rules. Privacy campaigners and MPs have criticised the lack of transparency and the extent of data collection, which includes sensitive information such as debt levels, living arrangements, and even notes on unfaithful sex. Xantura and Barking and Dagenham Council have defended the system as compliant with data protection rules and focused on providing support.
- Company involved
- UK local authorities
- AI system involved
- Covid OneView
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Finnish recruitment company Digital Minds used AI to analyze job applicants' messages, prompting data protection investigation
Digital Minds, a Finnish recruitment company founded by psychologists, used IBM Watson AI to analyze job applicants' social media and email messages for personality assessments. The company obtained written consent but the Finnish Data Protection Ombudsman launched an investigation, suspecting violations of data protection laws and the secrecy of correspondence. The service was used on fewer than ten applicants and has been paused pending the investigation.
- Company involved
- Digital Minds
- AI system involved
- IBM Watson
9 source articles · read the reporting →
SQA exam algorithm disproportionately downgraded poorer pupils, report finds
The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) used an algorithm to moderate 2020 exam results after COVID-19 cancelled exams. The algorithm disproportionately downgraded students from disadvantaged backgrounds, leading to a public outcry and a government U-turn. An independent report criticised the SQA and Scottish Government for failing to properly assess the equality impacts and for not making the algorithm available for analysis. The SQA has expressed no regret over the moderation approach.
- Company involved
- Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Teleperformance plans AI webcam surveillance for home-working staff
Teleperformance, a global call centre company, told some staff it would install AI-powered webcams to monitor home-working infractions such as eating, phone use, or leaving desks. The system would randomly scan for breaches and send alerts to managers. After the Guardian inquired, the company said the remote scans would not be used in the UK, but the plan raised concerns from unions and MPs about invasive surveillance.
- Company involved
- Teleperformance
10 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 →
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 →
UnitedHealth used ALERT algorithm to limit mental health coverage, regulators found
ProPublica reports that UnitedHealth Group's Optum subsidiary used the ALERT algorithm to flag mental health patients and therapists as outliers, leading to therapy coverage denials. Regulators in California, Massachusetts and New York alleged this breached the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, and UnitedHealth agreed to restrict the system in those jurisdictions. The company denies wrongdoing and says its programmes are compliant. Affected patients, including Medicaid enrollees, were left to pay out-of-pocket or go without care.
- Company involved
- UnitedHealth Group
- AI system involved
- ALERT
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Perth hospital group bans ChatGPT after doctor used it for a patient discharge summary
South Metropolitan Health Service, which runs five hospitals in Perth, ordered staff to stop using ChatGPT for work involving patient information after an email said some staff had used the AI chatbot to write medical notes. The service later clarified that only one doctor had used the tool to generate a patient discharge summary and that no confidential patient information had been breached. The Australian Medical Association has called for national regulations to ensure a human is involved in AI-assisted health decisions.
- Company involved
- South Metropolitan Health Service
- AI system involved
- ChatGPT
6 source articles · read the reporting →
EviCore denied heart catheterization for patient using algorithm
In fall 2021, Little John Cupp's doctor requested a left heart catheterization exam. EviCore, a company hired by UnitedHealthcare, denied the request twice using an algorithm called 'the dial' that adjusts thresholds for review. The algorithm flagged the request for review, and EviCore's doctors determined it was not medically necessary. Cupp did not receive the procedure and his symptoms continued.
- Company involved
- EviCore (a Cigna company)
- AI system involved
- the dial
6 source articles · read the reporting →
