# Missing underscore caused wrongful 18-month prison term

A man was wrongly imprisoned for 18 months because a missing underscore in a digital identifier led authorities to confuse him with a fugitive. The error was only discovered after a journalist investigated the case. This incident underscores the dangers of relying on flawed digital evidence in the justice system.

**Importance:** 4/5

## Sources

### Technology
- [Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/07/police-missed-one-underscore-and-sent-the-wrong-man-to-prison/) — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 20:22:03 +0000