AI Incidents
Real-world cases where AI systems caused harm, classified by risk domain and entity. Data sourced from 
AIID and classified by 
MIT AI Risk Initiative. CC BY-SA 4.0
538 incidents
Essex Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Having Generated and Shared Deepfake Pornography of at Least 20 Women and a Minor
Between March 2023 and May 2024, Brandon Tyler of Essex used AI to generate explicit deepfake pornography of at least 20 women he knew personally, including a 16-year-old. He manipulated their social media photos and shared them, along with their personal details, in online forums promoting sexual violence. He was sentenced to five years in prison in April 2025 under the UK's criminal law against sharing sexually explicit deepfakes, in what is one of the first major prosecutions of its kind.
AI Voice Clone of Texas Woman Used in Distress Scam Targeting Brother in Port Neches
Jace Edgar of Port Neches, Texas reportedly received a scam phone call using AI-generated voice cloning to mimic his sister in distress. Believing she had been in an accident, Edgar began to act before noticing the caller avoided direct questions. When he contacted his sister, she was unharmed and unaware of the call. Authorities confirmed this was part of a broader rise in AI-powered scams, urging the public to stay vigilant and avoid sharing personal info with unknown callers.
Baltimore Lawsuit Alleged DraftKings and FanDuel Used Machine-Learning-Driven Targeting to Exploit Vulnerable Gamblers
In Baltimore, the city sued DraftKings and FanDuel, alleging that the companies used predictive modeling with machine-learning algorithms, extensive user data, personalized promotions, push notifications, and VIP programs to identify and exploit vulnerable bettors, including people showing signs of gambling disorder. The complaint alleges these systems were designed to maximize user lifetime value and contributed to financial and public-health harms among Baltimore residents.
Reported AI‑Generated Deepfake Impersonations of Public Figures Allegedly Used in Coordinated Stock Pump‑and‑Dump Scheme Targeting Israeli Investors
A coordinated fraud campaign in Israel allegedly used AI‑generated deepfake impersonations of public figures including Amir Yaron, Benjamin Netanyahu, Eyal Golan, Noa Kirel, Gal Gadot, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg to promote NASDAQ‑listed Ostin Technology Group Co. Ltd. (OST) in a pump‑and‑dump scheme. Paid social media ads, WhatsApp groups, and fake investment platforms reportedly lured investors before the stock collapsed in early July 2025, causing major reported losses.
Fact-Checking Finds Reportedly AI-Generated Video Misattributed Hypertension Cure Endorsements to Taiwo Ajai-Lycett and Chinonso Egemba
Fact-checking reports that a purported AI-generated video circulated on Facebook depicting veteran actor Taiwo Ajai-Lycett discussing a hypertension diagnosis and promoting an unproven treatment by influencer Chinonso Egemba. According to the report, the video exhibited signs of AI generation, including unnatural speech and mismatched lip movements. Both Ajai-Lycett and Egemba have denied involvement, and no credible medical evidence supports the claimed cure.
Reported Use of AI Apps to Create Sexualized Deepfake Images of High School Students at Cascade High School in Iowa
Students of the Western Dubuque Community School District in Iowa reported that classmates allegedly used AI-enabled applications to generate sexualized deepfake images depicting fellow students. According to local reporting and the Dubuque County Sheriff's Office, the fabricated images were created and shared without consent. The school district reportedly held a public session to address policy gaps and student support following the incident.
Manipulated Video Using AI-Generated Audio Targets Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif with Fabricated Interview
A viral video falsely claimed to show Layal al-Ekhtiar of Al Arabiya confronting Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over funding a 30-person Umrah delegation with public money while seeking aid from Saudi Arabia. Investigators concluded the video had been dubbed with AI-generated audio. The original interview was broadcast by Saudi-owned Al Arabiya in January 2023, and it contained no such exchange. Lip-sync inconsistencies reportedly confirmed the manipulation.
AI-Enabled Organized Crime Expands Across Europe
Europol’s EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (EU-SOCTA) 2025 warns that AI is accelerating the growth of organized crime throughout Europe. Criminal networks are leveraging AI for cyber fraud, ransomware, money laundering, and child exploitation, while AI-powered social engineering and automation are making criminal operations more scalable and harder to detect.
Alleged Use of AI to Create Sexualized Deepfake Images of Middle School Students Under Investigation in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Authorities in Bucks County, Pennsylvania reported that a middle school student allegedly used AI-enabled tools to create sexualized deepfake images depicting classmates. The incident, which reportedly occurred in March 2025, involved images generated without consent and is under investigation by local police and the district attorney's office. The alleged conduct may fall under a new Pennsylvania law addressing non-consensual AI-generated sexual imagery, particularly involving minors.
Alleged AI-Generated IRS Scam Websites Used to Defraud U.S. Taxpayers
Scammers have allegedly been using AI-generated imposter websites and phishing emails to impersonate the IRS. They have reportedly been tricking taxpayers into providing personal and financial information. There has been a reported surge in tax-related AI scams leading up to Tax Day 2025, with fraudulent domains mimicking IRS services, along with fake websites, emails, and text messages. The IRS has warned taxpayers to verify official sites and avoid unsolicited links.
AI-Generated Voice Cloning of Trump Falsely Proposes Renaming the District of Columbia to the District of America
A viral audio clip circulating on TikTok, Facebook, X, and other platforms falsely portrayed Donald Trump saying he would rename Washington, D.C. as the "District of America." The voice was confirmed to be AI-generated by digital forensics experts. It was initially posted by a now-deleted TikTok account. The clip is reported to have spread rapidly across political lines before it was debunked.
Docomo Pacific CEO Reports Mother Targeted by Purported AI-Enabled Scam in Guam
Docomo Pacific's CEO, Christine Baleto, disclosed that her elderly mother was targeted by an alleged AI-enabled scam call on Guam. The scammer reportedly posed as a federal agent and used personal details and intimidation, demanding sensitive information under false pretenses. The company's advisory suggests AI voice cloning may have been involved, warning that such technology can convincingly mimic family members' voices, increasing risk for seniors on the island.
Scammers Reportedly Using Deepfake Video Calls to Impersonate Executives in Singapore and Orchestrate Corporate Bank Transfers
Scammers in Singapore are reportedly using AI-generated deepfake video calls to impersonate corporate executives. The calls seek to deceive employees into authorizing fraudulent bank transfers. Usually, it is reported, victims will receive WhatsApp messages inviting them to Zoom meetings. During the calls, the scammers are disguised as senior leaders and will instruct the employees to transfer company funds for fake business transactions and to disclose personal data.
Attackers Reportedly Deployed Simulated AI Support Chatbot to Trick Instagram Business Users into Adding Malicious 2FA Login
A phishing campaign has reportedly been impersonating Meta support using a fake chatbot interface to hijack Instagram Business accounts. Victims received emails claiming ad violations and were directed to a fraudulent site mimicking Meta's support. There, a simulated chatbot instructed users to add the attacker’s Authenticator app as a secure login method, enabling account takeover. It remains unclear whether the chatbot used AI or was human-operated via a bot-like interface. See editor's note.
Financial Times Journalist Martin Wolf Reports AI-Generated Investment Scam Using His Likeness on Instagram and Facebook
Beginning in March 2025, purported deepfakes impersonating Financial Times columnist Martin Wolf were distributed via ads on Facebook and Instagram, promoting an alleged fraudulent investment group. Despite repeated takedowns, the ads have reportedly persisted under new accounts. Meta data reportedly showed at least 1,700 ads reached over 970,000 users in the EU alone. The impersonations allegedly used AI-generated visuals and voice clones to mimic Wolf's likeness and mislead users.