AI Rewrite Scandal Exposes Risks to Integrity of AML and AFC Content

AI Rewrites and Content Dilution: A Cautionary Tale for Writers

A recent controversy highlights the risks of relying on AI to rework professional articles. An opinion piece originally published on AML Intelligence was copied by the website ‘Flexi News’ without proper attribution and later rewritten by ‘Fincrime Central’ using AI. The outcome? The original article's expertise and tone ended up significantly diluted.

This issue first surfaced when ‘Fincrime Central’ admitted to fabricating a quote from the CEO of Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority using AI. Now it’s clear the site also used AI to rewrite a respected AML expert’s column, turning it into an altered version that strayed far from the original intent.

From Original to AI-Modified Content

The original article, focused on FINRA’s AML enforcement approach under the Trump administration, was written by a CEO of a consulting firm. Shortly after its publication, ‘Flexi News’, a Cyprus-based outlet, published an article closely mirroring the original, but with some sections copied nearly verbatim and attributed incorrectly to FINRA itself.

For example, the original piece stated: “FINRA is wasting no time in keeping securities and investment banking firms accountable for having a reasonable AML program. Not effective, just reasonable.”

The ‘Flexi News’ version read: “Importantly, FINRA isn’t asking for perfection – just reasonableness. ‘Not effective, just reasonable,’ the update emphasized.” The tone and context had shifted subtly, yet meaningfully.

Following this, ‘Fincrime Central’ produced its own AI-generated article based on the ‘Flexi News’ article, further distancing the content from the original source. Neither of the two later articles cited the original AML Intelligence article. ‘Fincrime Central’ only credited ‘Flexi News’ as a source.

Responses and Lessons Learned

• Flexi News: The article was swiftly removed as part of an internal review. The publication insisted it does not knowingly copy or paraphrase without attribution but acknowledged the possibility of inadvertent overlap.
• Fincrime Central: The site removed the AI-written article and related posts. The operator admitted that some wording was unknowingly copied and reused by AI, describing it as a learning moment regarding AI use.

The original author described the unfolding situation like the “telephone game,” where the core message becomes increasingly distorted through repeated retellings. She warned that layers of AI rewriting can degrade expertise, tone, and operational insights, which are crucial in specialized fields like AML and AFC.

What This Means for Writers

For writers, especially those covering niche or technical topics, this incident is a clear reminder to be vigilant about where and how content is sourced. AI tools can easily replicate and alter content, sometimes unintentionally spreading inaccuracies or diluting the original message.

Writers should:

• Verify the credibility of sources, especially lesser-known websites.
• Be cautious when referencing AI-generated content that lacks clear authorship.
• Maintain clear attribution to preserve the original voice and authority.

As AI tools become more common in content creation, understanding their limitations and risks is critical. For those interested in learning more about effective AI use in writing and content creation, exploring focused AI courses can be valuable. Resources like ChatGPT-focused training offer practical guidance on integrating AI responsibly.

Final Thoughts

The rapid adoption of AI in content production calls for heightened awareness. While AI can assist in drafting and ideation, relying on it to rewrite expert content without oversight risks eroding quality and trust. Writers must safeguard their work’s integrity by insisting on transparency, proper attribution, and careful source selection.

Cases like this serve as a warning: not all AI-generated or AI-modified content maintains the rigor and accuracy of original expert work. Knowing where your information comes from and how it’s processed is essential to preserving credibility in writing.