AI Hiring Platform Faces FCRA Class Action Over Data Use | Kistler et al. v. Eightfold AI Inc.
The AI platform screened job applicants, affecting their hiring prospects.
- Company involved
- Eightfold AI
- AI system involved
- Eightfold AI
1 source article · read the reporting →
Class action claims Checkr misreported criminal records in background checks
Checkr's system misreported criminal records belonging to someone else on Natasha Davis's consumer report, impeding her ability to gain employment.
- Company involved
- Checkr Inc.
1 source article · read the reporting →
Single mom loses six-figure job after alleged background check errors
The background check system flagged discrepancies in employment history, causing the employer to rescind a job offer to Krishan Tucker.
- Company involved
- HireRight
- AI system involved
- HireRight
1 source article · read the reporting →
SafeRent Settles Class Action Over Tenant Screening for Voucher Holders
Mary Louis and Monica Douglas filed a class action lawsuit in 2022 alleging that SafeRent Solutions' SafeRent Score product discriminated against rental applicants in Massachusetts who held public housing vouchers, violating fair housing and consumer protection laws. SafeRent denied wrongdoing. The court approved a settlement in November 2024, and payments were distributed to eligible class members in 2025 and 2026.
- Company involved
- SafeRent Solutions, LLC
- AI system involved
- SafeRent Score
5 source articles · read the reporting →
How Your Shadow Credit Score Could Decide Whether You Get an Apartment - ProPublica
Tenant screening companies assign renters a score drawn from data far wider than credit history, an industry subject to less regulation than credit scoring agencies. ProPublica reports that experts warn these algorithms can decide who gets an apartment on the basis of information applicants cannot see or correct. Kim Fuller was denied a rental application on such a score.
- Company involved
- Habitat America
- AI system involved
- RentGrow
1 source article · read the reporting →
Ex-Fort Pierce officer accused of using Flock database 382 times to track ex-girlfriend - WPEC
Searched the ex-girlfriend's license plate and personal information in Flock and other law enforcement databases without a legitimate purpose.
- Company involved
- Flock Safety
- AI system involved
- Flock
1 source article · read the reporting →
Goldman Sachs Apple Card Algorithm Accused of Gender Bias in Credit Limits
In late 2019, David Heinemeier Hansson alleged on Twitter that the Apple Card underwriting algorithm, operated by Goldman Sachs, gave him a higher credit limit than his wife despite similar financial profiles. The New York Department of Financial Services investigated and found no violation of fair lending laws, but critics argue the audit methodology was outdated and failed to detect proxy discrimination. Apple later updated its credit policy to allow spouses to combine credit files, acknowledging a lack of fairness in industry credit scoring.
- Company involved
- Goldman Sachs
- AI system involved
- Apple Card
6 source articles · read the reporting →
CFPB Acts Against Hello Digit for Faulty Savings Algorithm Causing Overdrafts
Hello Digit, a fintech company, used an automated savings algorithm that made transfers from consumers' checking accounts, falsely guaranteeing no overdrafts. The algorithm caused customers to incur overdraft fees, and the company often denied reimbursement requests. The CFPB found that Hello Digit engaged in deceptive practices and ordered the company to pay redress to harmed consumers and a $2.7 million fine.
- Company involved
- Hello Digit, LLC
- AI system involved
- Hello Digit app
1 source article · read the reporting →
Schufa's Black-Box Scoring Unfairly Penalises Consumers with Positive Credit Data
An investigation by SPIEGEL and BR Data reveals that Schufa's credit scoring algorithm often assigns poor risk scores to consumers with only positive credit information. One consumer, Sven Drewert, was denied a credit card limit increase despite having no negative entries. The algorithm uses limited data, and its secret formula can lead to arbitrary categorisations, affecting access to loans, phone contracts, and housing. The system's opacity and potential biases raise concerns about fairness and accountability.
- Company involved
- Schufa Holding AG
- AI system involved
- Schufa Score
2 source articles · read the reporting →
AI-generated Centrelink phishing emails target 270,000 Australians
More than 270,000 fake emails impersonating Services Australia and Centrelink were detected over four months in a broad phishing campaign. Cybersecurity firm Mimecast reports that cybercriminals are using artificial intelligence to create highly convincing clones of legitimate government communications about benefits. The attack targets vulnerable people and can lead to identity theft, data theft, malware, or ransomware.
- Company involved
- Services Australia
4 source articles · read the reporting →
RCMP used IntelCenter facial recognition without disclosure
The RCMP in British Columbia secretly subscribed to IntelCenter's facial recognition service, which matched faces against a database of 700,000 faces tied to terrorism. Internal emails revealed the force broke its own procurement rules and hid the purchase. The RCMP claimed it was only for testing, but documents showed active use. The contracts ended in 2019.
- Company involved
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
- AI system involved
- IntelCenter Check
10 source articles · read the reporting →
MoviePass to use eye-tracking to ensure users watch adverts
MoviePass, the movie subscription service, has announced that its new app will use facial recognition and eye-tracking technology to ensure users are watching adverts. The system, which uses the phone's camera, will pause content if the user looks away. The company says the technology is designed to give advertisers the impact they are looking for. No harm has been reported yet, but the tracking raises privacy concerns.
- Company involved
- MoviePass
- AI system involved
- MoviePass app
10 source articles · read the reporting →
CFPB fines General Information Services for inaccurate background checks
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau took action against General Information Services and its affiliate e-Background-checks.com for failing to ensure the accuracy of employment background screening reports. The companies allegedly provided inaccurate criminal history information to employers, potentially affecting job applicants' eligibility and causing reputational harm. The CFPB ordered the companies to provide $10.5 million in relief to harmed consumers and pay a $2.5 million penalty.
- Company involved
- General Information Services
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Microsoft Recall still captures credit cards and passwords despite filter
The Register tested Microsoft Recall's sensitive information filter and found it frequently fails to block credit card numbers, passwords, and other personal data. The AI-powered screenshot tool, which is enabled by default on some new PCs, could expose users to identity theft if an attacker gains access. Microsoft declined to comment but has previously acknowledged the filter is not perfect and promised improvements. Privacy advocates warn that vulnerable users, such as domestic violence victims, could be particularly at risk.
- Company involved
- Microsoft
- AI system involved
- Recall
2 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 →
Barclays pilot of Sapience monitoring software causes employee stress
Barclays introduced a pilot of employee monitoring software from Sapience in its product control department at Canary Wharf. The system monitors computer activity and admonishes staff if they are not deemed active enough, recording breaks as "unaccounted activity". Employees reported significant stress and worry about taking breaks. Barclays acknowledged the pilot and said it would listen to feedback.
- Company involved
- Barclays
- AI system involved
- Sapience employee monitoring software
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Gradient app charges users unexpected subscription fees after free trial
The Gradient app, a celebrity lookalike app promoted by the Kardashians, charges users $19.99 per month after a three-day free trial without clear disclosure. Users complained on social media about unexpected credit card charges. The app's developer, Ticket to the Moon, has not addressed the billing complaints but denied collecting user data.
- Company involved
- Ticket to the Moon, Inc.
- AI system involved
- Gradient
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Proctortrack data breach exposed student data from online proctoring
Proctortrack, an online proctoring service used by universities, suffered a data breach in September 2020 when its source code was leaked online. An analysis by Consumer Reports found that the code contained hard-coded passwords and exposed the names and email addresses of over 150 students. The company acknowledged the leak but said no harm resulted. Students had been required to use the software, which performed facial recognition and recorded video during exams.
- Company involved
- Proctortrack
- AI system involved
- Proctortrack
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Allstate's proposed retention model charged big spenders more in Maryland
Allstate proposed an auto insurance rate adjustment plan in Maryland using a retention model algorithm that varied premium changes based on existing premiums. The algorithm would have increased rates up to 20% for customers already paying the highest premiums while capping increases at 5% for others, and would have denied meaningful discounts to thousands owed reductions. The Maryland Insurance Administration rejected the plan as discriminatory, but Allstate claims it was withdrawn and has continued proposing similar models elsewhere. The proposal never took effect in Maryland.
- Company involved
- Allstate Corporation
- AI system involved
- retention model
9 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 →
DeepScore markets facial and voice analysis app for trustworthiness scoring despite experts' doubts
DeepScore, a Tokyo-based company, is marketing an app that uses facial and voice recognition to score people's trustworthiness for lenders and insurers in Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. The company says the app can detect deception with 70 per cent accuracy, but researchers and privacy advocates say there is no reliable scientific basis for such judgments and warn of discrimination and privacy harms. The chief executive said the system is only one part of lenders' and insurers' decision-making and that people can choose not to use it. Critics respond that an unequal balance of power makes consent difficult.
- Company involved
- DeepScore
- AI system involved
- DeepScore
6 source articles · read the reporting →
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 involved
- Facebook
- AI system involved
- Facebook Ad Platform
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Adobe uses Creative Cloud user data to train AI
Adobe's content analysis feature may scan Creative Cloud and Document Cloud files to train machine learning models, including object recognition in Lightroom and Liquid Mode in Acrobat. The company says it may analyze images, audio, video, text and other documents stored on its servers. Adobe offers an opt-out in account privacy settings, but the article notes the company did not ask first.
- Company involved
- Adobe
- AI system involved
- Content analysis
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Canadian Tire chided by BC privacy commissioner for facial recognition without consent
Canadian Tire deployed facial recognition in at least four British Columbia stores between 2018 and 2021 to curb theft and increase staff safety. The BC Privacy Commissioner investigated and found the retailer failed to show a reasonable purpose and did not obtain customer consent, violating the province's Personal Information Protection Act. After the investigation was announced, Canadian Tire discontinued use of the system at all 12 locations and deleted customer data. The commissioner recommended stronger privacy policies and government regulation of biometric technologies.
- Company involved
- Canadian Tire
10 source articles · read the reporting →