Microsoft’s Copilot Wrongly Accuses Journalist of Crimes He Reported On

In a disturbing incident, German journalist Martin Bernklau discovered that Microsoft’s AI tool, Copilot, falsely accused him of committing several heinous crimes.

Bernklau, who writes a culture blog and covers court cases, was shocked when he typed his name and location into Copilot and found that it claimed he had been charged and convicted of child abuse and exploiting vulnerable individuals. It even alleged that he had orchestrated a dramatic escape from a psychiatric facility and had worked as an unethical mortician preying on grieving women.

Copilot's false accusations didn't stop there. The AI tool provided Bernklau's full address, phone number, and even a route planner to his home. According to the German public broadcaster SWR, Copilot lamented that someone with such a criminal background had a family, further exacerbating the situation.

The root of the problem lies in Copilot's inability to understand context. As a journalist, Bernklau has reported on numerous court cases involving crimes such as abuse and fraud. However, Copilot misinterpreted this information, attributing the crimes he reported on to him instead. The inclusion of personal details like his address and phone number makes the error even more alarming.

Bernklau reached out to the public prosecutor’s office in Tübingen, only to be told that no charges could be pressed because the accusations were generated by an AI, not a real person. Microsoft also refused to take responsibility, citing its terms of service, which disclaim liability for content produced by Copilot.

This incident highlights a terrifying flaw in AI systems and the legal system’s unpreparedness to address such issues, leaving individuals like Bernklau without any form of recourse.