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
Chinese Actor and CPPCC Member Jin Dong Allegedly Impersonated by AI Deepfake Scammers to Mislead and Defraud Fans
Jin Dong, an actor from China and a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), has warned about criminals using deepfake technology to impersonate him. The scammers are reportedly using his likeness and cloning his voice to deceive and defraud elderly individuals. In addition to his warning, Jin Dong has called for legislation and tech regulations to curb AI abuse.
AI-Generated Songs Allegedly Imitating Céline Dion Circulate Online Without Authorization
Céline Dion has publicly condemned AI-generated music that falsely claims to feature her voice without her permission. In a March 7, 2025 statement, her team warned fans that these recordings are fake and unauthorized.
Deepfake Videos Allegedly Use AI-Generated Voice Clone of Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to Promote Scams
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong issued a warning about AI-generated deepfake videos and voice clones falsely portraying him promoting cryptocurrency scams, money-making schemes, and PR services. The manipulated content, seen on social media, reportedly uses public footage and AI voice cloning to deceive victims. Wong urged the public to avoid engaging, report scams via ScamShield, and stay vigilant.
ChatGPT Was Allegedly Consulted About Attack Options Before Teen Attempted to Stab Officer at Tira, Israel, Police Station
A 16-year-old from Tira, Israel, allegedly entered the city's police station with a knife and attempted to stab a Border Police officer. Prosecutors reportedly alleged that before the attack he had consulted ChatGPT about possible attacks and courses of action. He was charged in juvenile court with attempted aggravated assault as an act of terror. Public reporting does not establish what responses ChatGPT provided or whether they materially assisted the attempted attack.
Tbilisi-Based Call Center Allegedly Uses AI-Driven Scripts to Defraud Over 6,000 Victims of $35 Million
A large-scale AI-assisted financial scam, allegedly operated from Tbilisi, Georgia, used deepfake celebrity endorsements and manipulated victims through fraudulent trading dashboards that simulated high returns. Call center agents, trained with AI-driven persuasion tactics, convinced individuals to invest more money while falsely promising profits. Many reportedly lost their life savings, with the total losses reaching $35M across more than 6,000 victims.
Google Reports Alleged Gemini-Generated Terrorism and Child Exploitation to Australian eSafety Commission
Google reported to Australia's eSafety Commission that it received 258 complaints globally about AI-generated deepfake terrorism content and 86 about child abuse material made with its Gemini AI. The regulator called this a "world-first insight" into AI misuse. While Google uses hash-matching to detect child abuse content, it lacks a similar system for extremist material.
Canadian Fraud Ring Allegedly Used AI Voice Cloning in Multi-Year $21 Million Grandparent Scam Targeting Elderly Americans Across 46 States
A Canadian fraud ring allegedly used AI-generated voice cloning to defraud victims across 46 U.S. states by targeting grandparents in a $21 million scam between 2021 and 2024. Operating from call centers in Montreal, the scammers spoofed U.S. phone numbers and used AI-cloned voices of grandchildren to convince victims to pay fake bail fees.
Reported Deepfake Influencers on TikTok Allegedly Used to Promote Fraudulent Wellness Products
A network of TikTok accounts reportedly used AI-generated and deepfake influencer personas to promote wellness and beauty products through alleged deceptive advertising. The accounts reportedly invented identities and personal testimonials while making unsubstantiated medical claims, including false assertions related to fertility and hair-growth treatments. Some personas were reportedly reused across multiple accounts with inconsistent backstories. The content purportedly targeted vulnerable users and linked to unverified products before the accounts were removed.
Phishers Allegedly Using AI-Generated Video of YouTube CEO Neal Mohan to Target Creators
Scammers are reportedly using an AI-generated deepfake of YouTube CEO Neal Mohan to steal user credentials. The fake video announces false changes to YouTube’s monetization policy, and it then tricks creators into clicking malicious links or downloading malware. The scam spreads through private videos and emails from a fake YouTube address. It exploits platform features to appear legitimate. Victims risk losing account access or exposing sensitive data.
Scammers Allegedly Using Deepfake Technology to Impersonate Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan
Scammers are reportedly using deepfake technology to impersonate Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, according to the Personal Data Protection Agency. The video is reported to have circulated from a Russian-language account called Noticias Mundiales ("World News").
Purported Deepfake Audio Allegedly Impersonates U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Starlink Disinformation Campaign
A purported deepfake audio clip allegedly impersonating U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio falsely claimed he vowed to pressure Elon Musk into cutting Ukraine’s access to Starlink. The reported clip was inserted into a purportedly manipulated CNN interview. It was then reported to have spread across multiple languages and fueled disinformation about U.S.-Ukraine relations. Forensic analysis reportedly confirmed the audio was AI-generated.
At Least 294 Purported AI-Generated Music Videos Portray Celebrities Praising Burkina Faso's Ibrahim Traoré
Between March and May 2025, at least 294 purported AI-generated deepfake music videos were uploaded across a reported 127 YouTube channels, collectively garnering over 8.6 million views by the end of May. The videos depict global celebrities (including Beyoncé, Rihanna, R. Kelly, Selena Gomez, Eminem, and Justin Bieber) praising Burkinabe President Ibrahim Traoré and endorsing military rule.
Deepfake Video of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Other Officials Reportedly Used in Scam to Defraud Citizens Across 20 Provinces
A deepfake scam allegedly using AI-generated videos of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and other officials reportedly defrauded victims across 20 provinces, tricking them into paying Rp 250,000 to Rp 1 million ($15-$60) for purported financial aid. The fraudulent clips, circulated on TikTok, Instagram, and WhatsApp, appeared to show Prabowo offering assistance. Police reportedly arrested two suspects in February 2025, but deepfake scams exploiting high-profile figures continue to spread.
Purported AI-Generated Images Reportedly Used in Sextortion Scheme Targeting Glasgow, Kentucky Teen Who Later Died by Suicide
16-year-old Elijah Heacock of Glasgow, Kentucky, reportedly died by suicide on February 28, 2025, after receiving threatening messages containing purportedly AI-generated explicit images depicting him. The images were reportedly used in a sextortion attempt demanding money. The FBI has been investigating the case as part of an alleged pattern of online financial sextortion schemes targeting minors.
Europol Operation Cumberland Investigates at Least 273 Suspects in 19 Countries for AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material
Europol’s Operation Cumberland uncovered a global network distributing AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The operation has led to 25 arrests and 273 identified suspects across 19 countries. The AI-enabled abuse allows criminals to create exploitative content at scale with minimal expertise.