Stirling student sentenced for using AI to stalk McDonald’s worker

A 27-year-old Master’s student who used artificial intelligence to send messages to a McDonald’s worker he was stalking has been sentenced.

Farhan Ali, of Rutherglen, was found guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court of stalking the woman between 3rd and 23rd February 2024. The court heard that Ali, a business management student at the University of Stirling and a Just Eat driver, repeatedly tried to contact the woman despite her clear lack of interest.

The ordeal began late at night when Ali approached the victim in the car park of the Rutherglen McDonald’s while she was working. CCTV footage showed him approaching her at 11pm as she emptied bins. The woman testified that she felt “scared” when Ali spoke to her, claiming he had been “watching her at work.”

Ali initially asked for her contact details, which she refused to provide. Despite this, he later sent her unsolicited messages on Snapchat and Instagram. When these were ignored, he continued to try to engage with her, even visiting the restaurant to order a milkshake she handed to him.

The court heard that Ali used the AI app ChatGPT to draft an apology message after the woman blocked him on social media. He claimed he had input the details of the situation into the app, which suggested a conciliatory message. Despite this, Ali maintained in court that he had done nothing wrong.

Prosecutor Redmond Harris argued that Ali’s repeated actions were deliberate attempts to force contact with the victim, who had made her discomfort clear. Harris said Ali was trying to “engineer” interactions despite knowing the woman did not want to engage.

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Ali sent a third Instagram message, stating: “Hey, I hope you are well. I understand that my messages may make you feel uncomfortable.” The woman subsequently blocked him again.

During the trial, the court was also told of an incident where Ali allegedly followed the woman in his car, a claim he denied, stating he was unable to drive due to insurance issues.

Sheriff Thomas Scott described Ali’s behaviour as “unacceptable and concerning,” imposing a £300 fine and warning him against any further misconduct.

The victim expressed relief following the court’s decision, with the case highlighting the misuse of AI tools in inappropriate and invasive ways.

Featured image via Google Maps