West Midlands Police earn red card over Copilot's imaginary football match
The Register
February 24, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
West Midlands Police faced significant embarrassment after incorporating generative AI into their decision-making processes during a high-profile football match. The force relied on Copilot, an AI tool, which generated false information about a nonexistent West Ham match, leading to the erroneous barring of Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters at the Aston Villa fixture in November. This incident highlights the dangers of integrating AI with public order decisions without proper safeguards.
The UK Parliament's Home Affairs Committee revealed that the fictional data created by Copilot made its way into official briefing materials and influenced risk assessments. The committee criticized the lack of oversight, noting that former chief constable Craig Guildford displayed a lack of professional curiosity by not verifying the information before presenting it to MPs. Although Guildford was initially unaware of the AI's role, the committee emphasized that internal disclosures should have ensured he was fully briefed.
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Originally published on The Register on 2/24/2026