Episode 9: Behind the Curtain

Sam Mullins looks into Cybercheck’s claimed “success stories” and finds they offer little proof of the tool’s reliability. One defense attorney benefited from a Cybercheck report that actually pointed to an alternative suspect, helping reduce charges against her client, while a prosecutor and paid Cybercheck consultant praised the technology despite never using it in court. Journalists’ extensive public records requests and outreach to law enforcement revealed widespread skepticism, failed tests, and unverifiable claims, with no confirmed example of Cybercheck solving a case. The episode also highlights the conviction of Salah Maddi, where Cybercheck testimony appeared to influence the jury despite weak corroborating evidence, raising concerns that unproven AI may have contributed to wrongful convictions. Ultimately, the investigation concludes that Cybercheck has consumed investigators’ time, influenced prosecutions, and spread widely—despite a lack of transparency or clear evidence that it reliably delivers justice.