Facebook Profits from Insurrection by Serving Military Gear Ads Next to Extremist Content
After the January 6 U.S. Capitol riot, Facebook continued to serve advertisements for weapons accessories and body armor alongside election misinformation and insurrection content in far-right and militia groups. The Tech Transparency Project found that Facebook's algorithms recommended militia pages between these ads, potentially fueling radicalization. Despite announcing a ban on such ads, the platform still displayed them the following day. Lawmakers and state attorneys general urged Facebook to halt the advertising, highlighting the risk of equipping extremists.
- Company involved
- Facebook
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Meta accused of profiting from billions of scam ads - ICLG
The AI system generated and targeted scam advertisements to users, causing potential financial harm.
- Company involved
- Meta Platforms
- AI system involved
- Advantage+
1 source article · read the reporting →
SpaceXAI offering to buy homes affected by noise in Southaven - DeSoto Times-Tribune
The power plant's operation generated constant noise that affected nearby residents' quality of life, health, and property values.
- Company involved
- SpaceXAI
1 source article · read the reporting →
Workday Gains an Edge in AI Hiring Bias Fight: California Brief - Bloomberg Law News
Workday Gains an Edge in AI Hiring Bias Fight: California Brief - Bloomberg Law News
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AI Scammers Clone Exante Broker, Use JPMorgan Account to Defraud US Victim
Scammers used generative AI to create a fake clone of the brokerage firm Exante, including a replicated trading platform and AI-generated passports. They opened a real JPMorgan Chase bank account using a US address and tricked at least one US victim into transferring funds. Exante, which does not serve US clients, discovered the scam when the victim was registered on its real platform and reported the incident to the FBI, SEC, CFTC, and other authorities. The scammers remain unidentified, and the victim's funds have not been recovered.
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Resume prompt injection tricks AI hiring - moneywise.com
AI screening system determined which job applicants to advance to the next stage of recruitment.
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Amazon's Algorithm Favours Its Own Products Over Cheaper Alternatives
ProPublica found that Amazon's buy box algorithm often selects Amazon's own products or those of sellers who pay for its services, even when cheaper options exist. This results in customers paying higher prices, with an average difference of $7.88 per product. Sellers who do not pay for Amazon's Fulfilled by Amazon programme are disadvantaged and may lose sales. Amazon states that the algorithm considers factors beyond price, such as shipping speed and customer service.
3 source articles · read the reporting →
AI-Generated Fake Investment Websites Target Australian Fraud Analyst
A fraud analyst, Leon, was targeted by scammers who used AI to create convincing fake websites for non-existent investment firms. The scammers posed as employees of Assent Advisory and directed him to elaborate sites for APPC Capital Singapore and Thackeray Mines and Minerals Inc., complete with AI-generated images and fake details. Leon recognised the scam, but the sophistication of the AI-generated content made him second-guess his own judgment. The incident highlights how AI is enabling more convincing investment scams.
1 source article · read the reporting →
Meta Agrees to Alter Ad Technology in Settlement With U.S. (Published 2022) - The New York Times
The ad delivery system allegedly discriminated in housing ad delivery on the basis of protected characteristics.
- Company involved
- Meta
- AI system involved
- ad technology
1 source article · read the reporting →
Fred's Appliance sued over AI-generated ads using spokeswoman's likeness
Amber George, the longtime spokeswoman for Fred's Appliance, alleges that the company and production company Victory Media used artificial intelligence to create advertisements featuring her voice and likeness without her consent. She discovered a President's Day ad in February 2026 that she had not filmed, which used cloned voice and past footage. After she raised concerns, the companies offered an addendum to allow AI use, which she rejected, ending her 14-year relationship with Fred's. She filed a lawsuit in Spokane Superior Court alleging commercial exploitation; the companies claim they believed the use was authorized and offered compensation.
- Company involved
- Fred's Appliance
1 source article · read the reporting →
Coupang Probed by South Korea FTC for Alleged Search Algorithm Manipulation
South Korea's Fair Trade Commission is investigating e-commerce company Coupang for allegedly tampering with its search algorithms to prioritise its own products over those of other suppliers. The alleged manipulation meant that Coupang's items appeared at the top of search results, while competitors' products were pushed down, reducing their visibility. The FTC is also examining whether Coupang pressured suppliers to offer the lowest prices and retaliated against those who did not comply. The investigation is ongoing.
- Company involved
- Coupang
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Meta's Advantage Plus AI ad tool overspends and underperforms for advertisers
In February 2024, Meta's automated ad platform Advantage Plus began malfunctioning, causing advertisers' costs per impression to skyrocket and blowing through daily budgets without delivering sales. Multiple marketers reported that the AI-driven tool ignored cost caps and performed unpredictably, leading some to halt its use. Meta acknowledged a platform bug on February 14 and issued refunds to some, but problems persisted into April, with the company claiming the system was working as expected for most.
- Company involved
- Meta
- AI system involved
- Advantage Plus
1 source article · read the reporting →
Portland Water Bureau AI pilot offers discount to billionaire CEO
The Portland Water Bureau used a machine learning system in a randomised control trial to identify customers for its financial assistance programme. The system selected Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle, a billionaire and one of the city's largest residential water consumers, for a 40% water bill discount. Boyle declined the discount, stating it should go to someone who needs it. The bureau is testing whether the SERVUS algorithm can accurately identify customers' ability to pay.
- Company involved
- Portland Water Bureau
- AI system involved
- Smart Discount Program
1 source article · read the reporting →
Prozenith used AI deepfake of Oprah to sell turmeric supplements
A Utah woman says she paid more than $400 for Prozenith supplements after seeing videos that appeared to show Oprah Winfrey endorsing them, but the product was mostly turmeric. The endorsements are alleged to be AI deepfakes, and Winfrey has said she has nothing to do with weight-loss pills. KSL TV contacted Prozenith but received no response; the woman was told she could return the product.
- Company involved
- Prozenith
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Facebook rejects ProPublica claims of age discrimination in recruitment adverts
ProPublica has reported that companies, including Facebook's own marketing team, used Facebook to show recruitment adverts to specific age groups, alleging age discrimination. Facebook rejects the allegation, saying its adverts are tailored by audience and are part of broader recruitment efforts. The company argues that age-based targeting for employment purposes can be lawful and says it is requiring employers to certify compliance.
- Company involved
- Facebook
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Lionsgate Drops Marketing Consultant After AI-Generated Fake Critic Quotes in Megalopolis Trailer
Lionsgate parted ways with marketing consultant Eddie Egan after it was discovered that the trailer for Francis Ford Coppola's 'Megalopolis' contained fabricated negative quotes from famous film critics. The quotes, which were generated using AI, falsely attributed criticism to critics like Pauline Kael. The studio pulled the trailer and apologised for the error, acknowledging a failure in their vetting process.
- Company involved
- Lionsgate
- AI system involved
- ChatGPT
1 source article · read the reporting →
Facebook's ad system offered antisemitic targeting categories, investigation finds
In September 2017, an investigation by ProPublica revealed that Facebook's self-service ad platform allowed advertisers to target users based on antisemitic interest categories such as 'Jew hater' and 'How to burn Jews'. The categories, automatically generated by a Facebook algorithm, had an audience of nearly 2,300 users. ProPublica tested the system by successfully targeting ads to these groups. After being contacted, Facebook removed the offensive categories and announced it was removing self-reported targeting fields to prevent discriminatory use.
- Company involved
- Facebook
- AI system involved
- Facebook Ads
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Booking.com still misleading consumers with false '1 room left' claims
Booking.com continues to display misleading scarcity messages on its hotel booking platform, claiming that only one room is left when in fact many more are available. Which? Travel found that five out of ten such claims were inaccurate, with one example showing 34 rooms still available at a London hotel. The Competition and Markets Authority had given Booking.com until 1 September 2019 to change its practices, but the platform has not fully complied. Booking.com says it has worked to implement the commitments agreed with the CMA.
- Company involved
- Booking.com
10 source articles · read the reporting →
RealPage's YieldStar algorithm pushes rents higher for tenants
RealPage's YieldStar algorithm uses private competitor data to recommend rent increases for apartment units. Landlords adopt up to 90% of the suggestions, leading to higher rents for tenants. Critics allege the software may facilitate indirect price-fixing in violation of antitrust law. The company denies wrongdoing and says the software helps eliminate collusion.
- Company involved
- RealPage
- AI system involved
- YieldStar
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Stanford Researchers Find Over 1,000 LinkedIn Profiles Using AI-Generated Faces for Spam
Renée DiResta and Josh Goldstein of the Stanford Internet Observatory discovered over 1,000 LinkedIn accounts using AI-generated profile images to send sales pitches, bypassing LinkedIn's message limits. The fake accounts, which appeared to be real people, were used for corporate spamming rather than political disinformation. LinkedIn investigated and removed the violating accounts, stating that all profiles must represent real people.
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Walgreens deploys digital cooler doors with ads from Cooler Screens
Walgreens is rolling out digital cooler doors from Cooler Screens that display ads before showing the cooler contents. The system tracks when customers stop in front of the doors but claims to be identity-blind. Customers have expressed confusion and annoyance on social media. Walgreens says the screens provide relevant product information.
- Company involved
- Walgreens
- AI system involved
- Cooler Screens
10 source articles · read the reporting →
SEC warns public of deep fake investment scams featuring Lance Gokongwei
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) warned the public that scammers are using deep fake videos and audio of Lance Gokongwei to endorse fraudulent investment schemes. The manipulated media circulate on social media, deceiving people into investing in a platform registered in Cyprus. Victims are asked to provide credit card details and OTPs, then lose contact when attempting to withdraw funds. The SEC advises the public to verify investment offers with the agency.
2 source articles · read the reporting →
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 involved
- Facebook
- AI system involved
- Facebook Ads
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Proctorio's exam proctoring system allows human agents to review student feeds despite privacy claims
A security researcher analyzed Proctorio's Chrome extension and found evidence that the system allows human agents to review students' room scans and live ID checks, contrary to Proctorio's claims that only professors can access recordings. The system flags students based on behavioral metrics and can terminate exams. The researcher also raised concerns about discrimination against low-income students and privacy violations.
- Company involved
- Proctorio
- AI system involved
- Proctorio
10 source articles · read the reporting →
