AI Incident Database
Browse AI incidents
Every incident record (metadata only) from the weekly snapshot of 2026-09-07. Filter, then export the selection with its licence attached; each row links to the full record and its reports.
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Deepfake of Kamala Harris Saying Damaging Comments Circulates on X and Is Amplified by Elon Musk AIID ↗
The X user @MrReaganUSA uploaded a deepfake of Kamala Harris saying damaging comments about Joe Biden and her own qualifications for the presidency, originally marking it as a parody. The post was shared and amplified eight hours later via Elon Musk's account without the disclaimer.
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SearchGPT Reportedly Misleads Users with Incorrect Festival Dates in Demo AIID ↗
OpenAI’s prototype AI tool, SearchGPT, provided incorrect dates for An Appalachian Summer Festival in Boone, North Carolina during a demonstration video. The AI listed dates that were incorrect, potentially misleading users planning to attend the event, but also harming the reputation of OpenAI as the incident occurred during a high-profile event.
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Sichuan Province Beset by Numerous Fabricated AI-Generated Reports of Disasters and Crises AIID ↗
In Sichuan, AI tools were reportedly used to create and disseminate false reports across various cities, including fabricated stories of landslides, earthquakes, standoffs, accidents, and health-related incidents. These AI-driven rumors misled the public, caused alarm and confusion, and strained local authorities. The alleged perpetrators sought social media engagement and financial gain through clickbait content. The authorities in Sichuan ultimately levied administrative penalties against the
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AI Chatbots Reportedly Inaccurately Conveyed Real-Time Political News AIID ↗
Over a week of back-to-back, significant breaking political news stories, including the Trump rally shooting and Biden’s campaign withdrawal, AI chatbots reportedly failed to provide accurate real-time updates. Most chatbots gave incorrect or outdated information, demonstrating their current limitations in handling fast-paced news. These incidents suggest the continuing need for improved AI capabilities and caution in their deployment for real-time news dissemination.
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Purported AI-Generated Video Depicting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Using Drugs Shared by Rodrigo Duterte Supporters and Amplified by China-Linked Spamouflage AIID ↗
A purported deepfake video depicting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. using drugs was released by Rodrigo Duterte ally Claire "Maharlika" Contreras at a Maisug rally in Los Angeles. The clip was reportedly timed to discredit Marcos ahead of his State of the Nation Address. Philippine authorities reportedly confirmed it was fake. The video was allegedly amplified by China's Spamouflage network via coordinated inauthentic accounts on X and YouTube.
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False Election Data on Kamala Harris Reportedly Circulated via Grok AI Chatbot AIID ↗
After President Joe Biden stepped aside as a presidential candidate on July 21, 2024, the AI chatbot Grok on X reportedly falsely informed users that Vice President Kamala Harris missed the ballot deadline in nine states. This misinformation, which spread widely on social media, prompted secretaries of state from five U.S. states to urge Elon Musk to address the problem.
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Fatalities Reportedly Occur Despite VioGén Algorithm's Low or Negligible Risk Scores AIID ↗
The VioGén algorithm was designed to help Spanish police assess and prioritize the risk of repeat domestic violence incidents. However, its low-risk assessment of Lobna Hemid reportedly led to inadequate protection; her husband murdered her. Since 2007, 247 women have been killed after being assessed by VioGén. A review of 98 homicides found that 55 of the slain women were scored as negligible or low risk.
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Ferrari Executive Targeted by AI Deepfake Scam Impersonating CEO Benedetto Vigna AIID ↗
A Ferrari executive was targeted by an AI-generated deepfake impersonating CEO Benedetto Vigna in an alleged fraud attempt. The scammer, using WhatsApp and a cloned voice, claimed an urgent, secretive financial deal required immediate action. The executive became suspicious after detecting slight artificial intonations; the scam failed when the executive tested the caller by asking about a recent book recommendation.
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Gemini AI Allegedly Reads Google Drive Files Without Explicit User Consent AIID ↗
Kevin Bankston, a privacy activist, claims that Google's Gemini AI scans private Google Drive PDFs without explicit user consent. Bankston reports that after using Gemini on one document, the AI continues to access similar files automatically. Google disputes these claims, stating that Gemini requires proactive user activation and operates within privacy-preserving settings.
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Taranaki, New Zealand Resident Allegedly Defrauded of $224K in Bitcoin Scam Using Deepfake of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon AIID ↗
A Taranaki, New Zealand resident allegedly lost $224,000 in a Bitcoin scam involving a deepfake video reportedly depicting Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. The AI-generated video, shared on Facebook, purportedly promoted cryptocurrency investments targeting superannuitants. Scammers posing as financial advisers reportedly gained remote access to the victim’s computer and created accounts to facilitate the transfer of funds.
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Grok AI Model Reportedly Fails to Produce Reliable News in Wake of Trump Assassination Attempt AIID ↗
xAI's model Grok, intended to automate news delivery on the X platform, is reported to have struggled to provide accurate information during the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Grok apparently issued incorrect headlines, including false reports about Vice President Kamala Harris being shot and misidentifying the alleged shooter. These errors show the pitfalls of relying on AI for real-time news aggregation, as it allegedly amplified unverified claims and failed to recog
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Suspect in Palisades Fire Allegedly Consulted ChatGPT for Arson Tips and Legal Advice Before Blaze That Killed 12 and Destroyed 6,837 Structures AIID ↗
Federal prosecutors allege that Jonathan Rinderknecht, arrested on 10/08/2025, consulted ChatGPT for arson-related imagery and legal advice before and after deliberately starting the Palisades fire in Los Angeles on 01/01/2025. The blaze, which reignited on 01/07/2025, killed 12 people and destroyed 6,873 buildings. Prosecutors say he generated a dystopian fire image with ChatGPT and later asked about liability for fires caused by cigarettes.
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NullBulge's AI-Powered Malware Allegedly Compromises Disney Employee and Internal Data AIID ↗
A Disney employee, Matthew Van Andel, reportedly downloaded AI-powered malware allegedly developed by the cybercriminal group NullBulge, resulting in a major cybersecurity breach. Hackers purportedly accessed Disney's Slack system, exposing 44 million internal messages, employee and customer data, and financial records. NullBulge also reportedly leaked Van Andel’s personal financial information, leading to identity theft and his eventual termination.
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Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) AI Systems Allegedly Discriminate Against Single Mothers AIID ↗
Researchers have argued that the Department for Work and Pensions' Universal Credit system disproportionately impacts single mothers. Automated processes in the system, designed to determine eligibility and detect fraud, are reported to have introduced biases, leading to financial instability and hardship. The algorithms allegedly miscalculate earnings and delay childcare reimbursements, in turn exacerbating income volatility and debt among single mothers.
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Baidu Robotaxi Allegedly Involved in Collision with Pedestrian in Wuhan AIID ↗
On July 7, 2024, a Baidu Robotaxi reportedly collided with a pedestrian at a traffic intersection in Wuhan. The incident occurred as the autonomous vehicle started moving on a green light while the pedestrian was allegedly crossing against a red light. The pedestrian sustained minor injuries, and Baidu was reported to have been cooperating with local authorities for further investigation.
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AI-Generated Obituaries Are Reportedly Intensifying Grief for Bereaved Families AIID ↗
AI-generated obituaries on various websites are reported to have compounded the grief of bereaved families by spreading incorrect and unauthorized information about their loved ones. These obituaries, produced without the families' knowledge, often contain errors and appear on ad-filled sites, exacerbating the emotional distress of the grieving process.
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China Targets AI-Driven Fraud and Deepfake Scandals with New Crackdowns AIID ↗
Chinese law enforcement has targeted a rise in AI-driven crimes. The crimes include deepfake and voice synthesis used for fraud, identity theft, and unauthorized personality rights usage. In particular, "AI undressing" scams, fake relationships using synthesized voices, and game hacking software make up many of these cases. In response, authorities have prosecuted multiple cases and implemented stricter regulations to control AI misuse.
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Purported Deepfake Targets Olena Zelenska in Alleged Russian Disinformation Campaign AIID ↗
A purported deepfake video falsely suggesting that Olena Zelenska, wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, purchased a luxury car, reportedly circulated widely online. The video is reportedly part of a Russian-linked disinformation campaign aimed at undermining Ukraine and its supporters.
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Figma Disables AI Feature After Accusations of Copying Apple’s Weather App AIID ↗
Figma has temporarily disabled its AI design feature, "Make Design," after accusations of copying Apple’s Weather app. Andy Allen of NotBoring Software highlighted the issue, prompting Figma CEO Dylan Field to deny claims of training the AI on specific app designs. However, Field acknowledged flaws in the QA process and promised to suspend the feature until it meets quality standards. The incident has implications for designers.
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Scammers Allegedly Use Deepfake Technology to Pose as Leonor, Princess of Asturias, in Fraud Scheme AIID ↗
Scammers have allegedly been using deepfake technology and fake social media accounts to reportedly impersonate Leonor, Princess of Asturias, targeting vulnerable individuals in Latin America. Victims were reportedly lured with promises of financial aid, requiring payments for "fees" or "taxes" before receiving funds, only to allegedly be defrauded repeatedly. TikTok accounts with thousands of followers reportedly amplified the scheme using AI to increase the appearance of credibility.
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AllHere's Chatbot 'Ed' Fails and Costs Los Angeles Unified School District $6 Million AIID ↗
The Los Angeles Unified School District invested up to $6 million in developing the AI chatbot "Ed," meant to provide academic and mental health support for students. The chatbot allegedly failed to meet expectations, and the project collapsed when AllHere, the contracted start-up, faced financial difficulties. Prince George's County Public Schools in Maryland was also affected. Founder Joanna Smith-Griffin was removed as CEO in June 2024 and later arrested on fraud charges.
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OpenAI's ChatGPT Mac App Stored User Data in Unencrypted Text Files AIID ↗
OpenAI's ChatGPT macOS app stored user conversations in plain text. If accessed by a malicious actor, these conversations could have been easily read. The critical security flaw was demonstrated by a third party and ultimately resolved after OpenAI released an update to encrypt the stored data.
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Female Politicians in the United Kingdom Reportedly Victimized by Purported Deepfake Pornography AIID ↗
Female politicians in the United Kingdom, including Angela Rayner, Gillian Keegan, Penny Mordaunt, Priti Patel, Stella Creasy, and Dehenna Davison, have reportedly been targeted by non-consensual, purportedly AI-generated deepfake pornography. The images, which some accounts suggest may have circulated online for an extended period, were reported to have caused distress and, in at least some instances, to have prompted reports to or involvement by law enforcement.
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Students at Australian Schools Reportedly Used AI Nudification Tools to Create Nonconsensual Sexual Images of Classmates and Teachers AIID ↗
Throughout 2024, schools in Australia reportedly dealt with a significant rise and proliferation of nonconsensual deepfake pornography of students. Often, male students are reported to use "nudify" apps such as Undress AI with images of their classmates and teachers. Many of the sites have reportedly remained legal and allegedly accessible to minors, who in turn are purportedly using the sites to generate pornography of their peers.
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Scammers Allegedly Use Deepfake of Hong Kong Entertainer Andy Lau to Steal NT$2.64 Million from Fan AIID ↗
Scammers allegedly defrauded a woman in New Taipei City of NT$2.64 million (US$81,116) by impersonating Hong Kong entertainer Andy Lau using purported deepfakes. The alleged scam convinced the victim, a long-time fan, through a video call that "Lau" needed funds for a visit to Taiwan. The victim reportedly wired the money, but her family suspected a scam and involved the police. An alleged scammer was arrested after attempting to collect a staged cash payment.
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Cody Enterprise Reporter Resigns After Admitting to AI-Generated Fake Quotes AIID ↗
A reporter at the Cody Enterprise used AI to generate fake quotes and stories, including fabricating statements from Wyoming’s governor and other officials. The misuse of AI was uncovered when another journalist noticed robotic phrases and false information in the articles. The reporter resigned, and the newspaper is now implementing policies to prevent future incidents.
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AI Work Assistants Require More Effort Than Expected, CIOs Say AIID ↗
AI work assistants, such as Copilot for Microsoft 365 and Gemini for Google Workspace, are proving to be more labor-intensive than anticipated for enterprises. CIOs report that these AI tools struggle with outdated or inaccurate data, leading to incorrect outputs. Companies are finding they must invest heavily in data management to ensure reliability. This added effort has led to delays in deployment and frustration, as businesses work to maximize the potential of these expensive AI tools.
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Udio Allegedly Copied Copyrighted Sound Recordings Without Permission to Train Its Generative AI Models AIID ↗
Record labels and independent artists alleged that Udio copied copyrighted recordings without permission and used them to train its generative music models. Udio acknowledged that its training data presumably included recordings owned by the plaintiffs but argued the copying was fair use. Plaintiffs alleged losses of licensing control and compensation and competition from AI-generated music.
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Suno Allegedly Copied Copyrighted Music Without Permission to Train Its Generative AI Models AIID ↗
Record labels and independent artists alleged that Suno copied copyrighted recordings without permission and used them to train its generative music models. Suno later acknowledged training on tens of millions of publicly accessible recordings while asserting fair use. Plaintiffs alleged the practice deprived rightsholders of licensing control and compensation and enabled competing AI-generated music.
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Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Algorithm Wrongly Flags 200,000 for Housing Benefit Fraud AIID ↗
A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) algorithm wrongly flagged over 200,000 UK housing benefit claims as high risk, resulting in unnecessary investigations. Two-thirds of these flagged claims were legitimate, causing wasted public funds and stress for claimants. Despite initial success in a pilot, the algorithm's real-world performance fell short. This incident highlights the risks of overreliance on automated systems in welfare administration.
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AI-Enabled Fraud Schemes Reportedly Increasing Consumer Harm and Challenging Detection AIID ↗
Scammers are reportedly using AI tools such as language models, voice cloning, and synthetic IDs to create more convincing frauds, leading to financial losses and identity theft. Banks have begun deploying AI-driven verification tools to counter these schemes, but experts warn that AI-enabled fraud continues to cause real-world harm and remains difficult to detect.
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Senior Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong Allegedly Misrepresented in Two Deepfake Videos on Foreign Relations AIID ↗
Two deepfake videos falsely depicted Senior Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong commenting on US-China relations and the South China Sea. The videos misleadingly attributed views to him and the Singapore government. Posted on TikTok, the videos amassed over 190,000 views before being removed.
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Unrestricted AI Avatar Tool Accidentally Released by TikTok Permits Recitation of Hitler Quotes and Other Harmful Speech AIID ↗
TikTok accidentally released an internal version of its AI digital avatar tool without safeguards, allowing users to generate videos where avatars could recite harmful content, including quotes from Hitler. The tool, meant for advertisers, was accessible to personal accounts and lacked the watermark indicating AI-generated content. TikTok has since removed the tool and acknowledged the problem.
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Instagram's Algorithm Reportedly Recommended Sexual Content to Teenagers' Accounts AIID ↗
Tests by The Wall Street Journal and a researcher reportedly revealed that Instagram's AI-driven Reels algorithm recommends sexually suggestive content to accounts listed as 13 years old. Despite Meta's commitment to restrict such content for minors, explicit videos were served within minutes of account creation, according to the findings.
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Erroneous Declined Transaction Notification by PayPal AI Assistant AIID ↗
On July 13th, 2024, a user reported an incident involving PayPal's generative AI chatbot. The chatbot allegedly incorrectly informed the user of a declined transaction that never occurred, causing confusion and prompting a call to customer service for clarification. This false alert suggests a flaw in the AI system's reliability. The incident created unnecessary labor for both the user and PayPal's human support, demonstrating the potential harm of deploying generative AI without thorough testin
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Leading AI Models Reportedly Found to Mimic Russian Disinformation in 33% of Cases and to Cite Fake Moscow News Sites AIID ↗
An audit by NewsGuard revealed that leading chatbots, including ChatGPT-4, You.com’s Smart Assistant, and others, repeated Russian disinformation narratives in one-third of their responses. These narratives originated from a network of fake news sites created by John Mark Dougan (Incident 701). The audit tested 570 prompts across 10 AI chatbots, showing that AI remains a tool for spreading disinformation despite efforts to prevent misuse.
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Tesla Reportedly in Autopilot Mode Hits Parked Police Vehicle in Fullerton, California AIID ↗
A Tesla reportedly in self-driving mode crashed into a parked patrol vehicle in Fullerton, California while the officer was responding to a fatal DUI crash. The officer narrowly escaped injury. The driver reports having been distracted by a cellphone and having relied on the Tesla’s AI. (The earlier crash involved a suspected DUI driver who killed a motorcyclist stopped at a red light.)
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Independent News Sites Flagged as Spam by Facebook's AI Moderation System AIID ↗
Facebook's AI moderation system mistakenly flagged and removed legitimate news articles from independent local publishers as spam. This affected publishers worldwide, disrupting content distribution and impacting traffic. Despite attempts to appeal, many publishers received no response.
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Purportedly AI-Generated Papers Are Alleged to Have Manipulated Scopus Rankings in Top Philosophy Journals AIID ↗
Three reportedly fake journals published by Addleton Academic Publishers allegedly manipulated Scopus rankings by extensively cross-citing each other and using AI-generated papers filled with buzzwords. These journals, placed in the top 10 of Scopus's 2023 CiteScore philosophy list, reportedly featured fake authors, affiliations, and grant numbers, in turn allegedly pushing legitimate journals to lower tiers, affecting academic evaluations and awards.
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Yale Student Suspended and Given F After GPTZero Allegedly Misclassified Exam as AI-Generated AIID ↗
In 2024, Yale University reportedly used GPTZero as one factor in investigating whether Executive MBA student Thierry Rignol used AI on an exam. Rignol reportedly denied cheating and alleged the detector falsely classified his writing as AI-generated. Yale reportedly later suspended him for a year and gave him an F, while citing additional evidence and his conduct during the investigation. Rignol has challenged the process in federal court.
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Auto Insurers Allegedly Are Surreptitiously Collecting and Scoring Driver Data AIID ↗
The insurance industry allegedly uses AI and telematics to score drivers based on behaviors tracked by automakers and apps like Life360. Data, often collected without clear consent, may affect insurance rates and raises privacy concerns. Consumers are largely unaware of this surveillance, leading to potential misuse and discrimination based on driving habits or socioeconomic factors.
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Turkish Student in Isparta Allegedly Uses AI to Cheat on Exam, Leading to Arrest AIID ↗
A Turkish student in Isparta was reportedly arrested for using ChatGPT to cheat during the 2024 YKS university entrance exam. The student, identified as M.E.E., is alleged to have employed a sophisticated setup involving a router, mobile phone, earphone, and a button-shaped camera to transmit exam questions to ChatGPT and receive answers in real-time.
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Teenager Reportedly Makes Deepfake Pornography of 50 Girls at Bacchus Marsh Grammar School in Australia AIID ↗
At Bacchus Marsh Grammar, a school in Victoria state in Australia, an adolescent male reportedly made deepfake pornography of 50 girls, ages 9 to 12. He then allegedly uploaded the pictures to Instagram, and others subsequently shared them on Snapchat.
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BNN Breaking's AI-Driven Errors Reportedly Damage Reputations and Spread Misinformation AIID ↗
BNN Breaking, an AI-driven news site, published a false story about Irish DJ Dave Fanning, damaging his reputation. The site used AI to generate error-filled content, leading to numerous complaints and a defamation lawsuit against BNN and Microsoft. The site has since gone dormant.
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xAI Allegedly Operates Unpermitted Methane Turbines in Memphis to Power Supercomputer Colossus to Train Grok AIID ↗
The xAI "Colossus" supercomputer facility in South Memphis allegedly runs 33 methane-powered turbines, despite a permit for only 15. The turbines reportedly power AI training for Grok. The facility's massive energy use and alleged unpermitted turbines reportedly produce extreme nitrogen oxide and formaldehyde emissions, adding toxic smog to a predominantly Black neighborhood already burdened by pollution and health risks.
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Reported Use of Purportedly AI-Generated Student Accounts in Online College Courses AIID ↗
An adjunct professor at an unspecified community college reportedly suspected that some students in his online art history and art appreciation courses are AI-powered spambots. These "students" allegedly submitted peculiar assignments, such as analyses of non-existent artworks and descriptions of sculptures using painting terminology. Additionally, their engagement with the college portal is reportedly minimal. The professor reportedly believed the spambot students aimed to fraudulently obtain f
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Scammers Allegedly Manipulate 2023 Speech of Singapore Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong to Spread Deepfake Investment Fraud AIID ↗
A new deepfake video falsely showed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong endorsing an investment product with guaranteed returns. Scammers synchronized fake audio with real footage from his 2023 National Day speech, making it appear as though he had made the endorsement. Lee called this “extremely worrying” and warned that deepfake scams are becoming more sophisticated. He urged the public to report such scams through the government’s ScamShield Bot.
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Character.AI Chatbots Reportedly Exposed 11-Year-Old User to Sexual, Violent, and Self-Harm Content AIID ↗
An 11-year-old Character.AI user identified by The Washington Post as "R" reportedly exchanged messages with bots that depicted coercive sexual encounters, violence, and suicide scenarios after she began using the app in June 2024. Her mother reportedly said R became withdrawn, had panic attacks, and expressed not wanting to exist before the chats were discovered.
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Facebook's Content Moderation System Flagged and Removed Emergency Updates as Spam During Wildfires AIID ↗
Facebook's AI moderation system wrongly flagged and removed dozens of posts containing vital emergency information during California's wildfire season, including real-time updates on evacuations and fire tracking. Posts from official sources like Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service were marked as spam, potentially endangering lives by restricting access to crucial updates. Despite user complaints, the issue persisted, with Facebook acknowledging the problem only after media inquiry.
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Hoodline Accused of Misleadingly Attributing AI-Generated Articles to Human Authors AIID ↗
In 2023, the news site Hoodline is reported to have begun publishing AI-generated articles with fake bylines, headshots, and biographies, allegedly misleading readers into believing they were authored by real journalists. This practice diminishes public trust and exemplifies the potential dangers of AI in journalism. Despite a disclaimer, the use of AI was not transparent.
Informational only, not legal advice. Verify every claim against the linked official sources and consult qualified counsel before acting.