Moscow police beat 15-year-old after AI facial recognition system misidentifies him as drug suspect

A 15-year-old schoolboy was beaten by Moscow police after an AI facial recognition system incorrectly identified him as a suspected criminal, according to journalist Ksenia Sobchak. The event occurred in May in Moscow’s Lomonosovsky District, according to the boy's father. Two police officers ambushed the teenager from behind, causing him to fall to the ground and subsequently assaulting him.

They then transported him to a police station and falsely accused him of drug distribution. Police failed to notify the boy's mother until two hours later, stating that her son was a suspect due to a high match rate from an AI system. After interrogation, both the mother and son were released. Medical examination revealed the teenager suffered a concussion, head injury, hematomas, bruises, and abrasions.

The police claimed the boy actively resisted arrest and used "combat fighting techniques" during the encounter. The boy's parents have lodged an appeal with Russia's principal federal investigative agency, the Investigative Committee, but have received only generic updates about an ongoing review for four months. Meduza, an organization dedicated to transparency in its use of AI in journalism, reported this story.

The journalist who wrote this story is human, and it was translated from Russian using an AI model, which underwent rigorous testing for accuracy and adherence to editorial standards. This English version has been reviewed by a Meduza editor before publication. Reporters interested in Meduza's exclusive English content should subscribe to their newsletter.