Crime app using AI generated false report of UA shooting Tuesday - Akron Beacon Journal

Crime app using AI generated false report of UA shooting Tuesday

- An AI-powered crime app incorrectly reported an active shooter at the University of Akron.

- Akron police confirmed there was no shooting and they received no calls for the incident.

- The app, CrimeRadar, has a history of posting false reports.

- Local police departments have warned the public that the app can misinterpret first-responder radio transmissions.

There was no shooting at the University of Akron on Tuesday, July 14, said Lt. Michael Murphy of the Akron Police Department.

The APD did not receive any calls from Carroll Street, where a crime app using artificial intelligence incorrectly reported a possible active shooter situation.

CrimeRadar has a history of inaccurate reports

The app, called CrimeRadar, has posted false reports in the past.

In December 2025, Streetsboro and Twinsburg police posted social media warnings against the app after it posted a false report that there had been a shooting at a Streetsboro elementary school.

“The app, which appears to monitor scanner frequencies and use artificial intelligence to generate 'breaking news' style articles, has been found to interpret radio transmissions inaccurately," Twinsburg Police Department's Facebook post on Dec. 8 read. “Our department received reports of content being shared on social media that misinterpreted real response to calls.”

Officials urged the community to be mindful of the information source and exercise caution when using it, as its information may be inaccurate.

They also encouraged against posting information from the app, as it can cause unnecessary panic, they said.

What is CrimeRadar?

According to CrimeRadar's App Store page, the program "tracks first-responder audio and uses AI to summarize and map potential incidents so you can stay aware of public safety activity near you."

In December 2025, BBC Verify identified multiple incidents of the app's automatic transcription service misinterpreting dispatch calls.

"We have been made aware of some serious transcription issues, which have resulted in the dissemination of inaccurate information," CrimeRadar said in a statement to BBC Verify. "We have enhanced our audio processing protocols to help prevent this type of translation error in the future. We're also releasing features that will allow agencies and community members to directly submit corrections and add context to posts."