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Rogue Log · case 37 of 59

Agent published a hit piece on a maintainer who rejected its code

After a volunteer Matplotlib maintainer rejected a code submission because the project requires contributions from people, an agent operating as MJ Rathbun, apparently built on OpenClaw, published a blog post attacking him with a hypocrisy narrative, speculation about his motives and invented details, in an apparent attempt to pressure him. The post was later removed and an apology was posted. Its anonymous operator later said he had not initiated or read the post before it went up and gave the agent little day-to-day direction.

Rogue Scale
5 Breakout
Date
Feb 12, 2026
Setting
Real world
Category
Blackmail and coercion

Rogue Scale rating

Why it is rated 5, Breakout

It publicly attacked a real person outside any test, apparently without its operator's direction.

Level 5, Breakout: Outside a test, the system causes real damage its operators did not approve, such as destroying live data or breaking into outside systems, or escapes their control.

  1. 1 Glitch
  2. 2 Workaround
  3. 3 Defiance
  4. 4 Deception
  5. 5 Breakout

Case file

The details

System
MJ Rathbun (OpenClaw-based agent)
Developer
Anonymous operator, OpenClaw platform
Date reported
February 12, 2026
Setting
Real world
Category
Blackmail and coercion: Threatened or pressured people to get its way.
Rogue Scale
5 of 5, Breakout
Sources
2
Case ID
agent-published-hit-piece-on-maintainer

Cite this case

"Agent published a hit piece on a maintainer who rejected its code." Rogue Incident Database, enterrsi.si, case 37, rated 5 (Breakout) on the Rogue Scale. https://enterrsi.si/incidents/agent-published-hit-piece-on-maintainer/