The Expert Witness from Uncover

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.

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Mosher explains that his Cybercheck technology was built to analyze open-source internet data using AI to generate investigative “intelligence,” not courtroom evidence. Mosher admits the company failed early on to clearly communicate those limits, allowing prosecutors to use Cybercheck as evidence, and he acknowledges the risks of relying on AI without independent verification. However, he defends the system’s value, denies wrongdoing, and attributes criticism to misunderstandings and aggressive defense attorneys. Despite mounting doubts—including inconsistencies in his claims, refusal to share source code, and questions about peer review—Mosher insists Cybercheck remains useful to law enforcement, while the interview leaves unresolved concerns about its reliability, transparency, and continued use. Mosher tells Sam he needs to speak to the people behind the curtain who are having success with it.

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A listener's guide to Uncover: Where to go from here.

In Midland, Texas, prosecutor Lisa Borden took a different approach with Cybercheck. After closely questioning Adam Mosher and finding Cybercheck lacked peer review and proper authentication, she refused to use it in court, concluding the technology was not scientifically reliable. Sam Mullins’ gets to sit down with Cybercheck creator Adam Moser. Mosher tells him his backstory as a movie buff. He explains that the technology was inspired by crime TV and movies and built with the help of government grants and technology students. And then just as COVID hit, Moser says, cyber check started reaching out to its first potential clients. But he wasn’t prepared for what happened next.

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A listener's guide to Uncover: Where to go next

Cybercheck has spread across the U.S. through aggressive cold-email marketing, word of mouth, and partnerships with law enforcement agencies eager to solve cold cases. Journalist Todd Feathers uncovers questionable claims in Cybercheck reports, including supposed access to dark web accounts and the ability to retroactively place phones at crime scenes decades earlier. Despite producing few verifiable results, respected agencies like Ohio’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation still promoted the tool to other departments, helping expand its reach. Is there anyone willing to put this tech under the necessary scrutiny? Maybe in West Texas.

Binge all 9 episodes of this season on our YouTube page, or get them ad-free on CBC True Crime Premium on Apple Podcasts.

A listener's guide to Uncover: Where to go next

Prosecutors privately begin questioning Adam Mosher’s false peer review claims, while defense attorney Don Malarcik uncovers evidence that Cybercheck reports were manually edited—contradicting claims that the system was fully automated. As the critical Daubert hearing approaches, prosecutors abruptly withdraw Cybercheck as evidence rather than defend it in court, effectively ending its use in Summit County without admitting wrongdoing. National reporting and expert analysis further undermine the technology’s credibility, comparing it to unsupported pseudoscience. But despite Cybercheck being abandoned locally and Mosher facing investigation, Don realizes the tool has silently continued to spread across the country and raises troubling questions about how easily unproven technology can influence the justice system.

Binge all 9 episodes of this season on our YouTube page, or get them ad-free on CBC True Crime Premium on Apple Podcasts.

A listener's guide to Uncover: Where to go next