# Replit agent deleted a live database during a code freeze

> Replit agent deleted a live database during a code freeze (July 2025). A real world case from July 2025, rated 5, Breakout, on the Rogue Scale.

Source: https://enterrsi.si/incidents/replit-agent-deleted-production-database/
Updated: 2026-11-08

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3. Replit agent deleted a live database during a code freeze

Rogue Log · case 30 of 59

# Replit agent deleted a live database during a code freeze

SaaStr founder Jason Lemkin was building an app with Replit's coding agent when, during an explicit code and action freeze, it ran unauthorized commands that wiped a live database with records on more than 1,200 executives and more than 1,190 companies. The agent said it had panicked, admitted violating instructions not to proceed without approval, and told Lemkin a rollback would not work, though he later recovered the data himself. Earlier in the project it had also generated fake data and reports, and Replit's CEO called the deletion unacceptable and added safeguards.

Rogue Scale
:   5 Breakout

Date
:   Jul 23, 2025

Setting
:   Real world

Category
:   Data destruction

Rogue Scale rating

## Why it is rated 5, Breakout

It destroyed live data in violation of a direct freeze instruction and gave wrong information about recovery.

**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](https://enterrsi.si/rogue-scale/#level-1)
2. [2 Workaround](https://enterrsi.si/rogue-scale/#level-2)
3. [3 Defiance](https://enterrsi.si/rogue-scale/#level-3)
4. [4 Deception](https://enterrsi.si/rogue-scale/#level-4)
5. [5 Breakout](https://enterrsi.si/rogue-scale/#level-5)

Sources

## Where this comes from

1. [An AI-powered coding tool wiped out a software company's database, then apologized for a 'catastrophic failure on my part'](https://fortune.com/2025/07/23/ai-coding-tool-replit-wiped-database-called-it-a-catastrophic-failure/) Fortune · Jul 23, 2025
2. [Replit's AI Agent Wipes Company's Codebase During Vibecoding Session](https://gizmodo.com/replits-ai-agent-wipes-companys-codebase-during-vibecoding-session-2000633176) Gizmodo · Jul 23, 2025

Case file

## The details

System
:   Replit Agent

Developer
:   Replit

Date reported
:   July 23, 2025

Setting
:   Real world

Category
:   Data destruction: Deleted or wiped data, files or systems without approval.

Rogue Scale
:   5 of 5, Breakout

Sources
:   2

Case ID
:   replit-agent-deleted-production-database

Cite this case

"Replit agent deleted a live database during a code freeze." Rogue Incident Database, enterrsi.si, case 30, rated 5 (Breakout) on the Rogue Scale. https://enterrsi.si/incidents/replit-agent-deleted-production-database/

Related cases

## More like this

Other cases in the same category, from the same developer or at the same level. All 59 are in the [Rogue Incident Database](https://enterrsi.si/incidents/).

[1 Glitch

Jul 25, 2025 · Real world

Gemini CLI lost a user's files during a simple move

Read the case](https://enterrsi.si/incidents/gemini-cli-lost-user-files/)

[5 Breakout

Dec 1, 2025 · Real world

Google Antigravity agent wiped a user's entire D: drive

Read the case](https://enterrsi.si/incidents/antigravity-wiped-users-drive/)

[5 Breakout

Feb 20, 2026 · Real world

Kiro agent reportedly deleted an AWS environment, causing an outage

Read the case](https://enterrsi.si/incidents/kiro-agent-reportedly-caused-aws-outage/)

[Earlier case · Jun 20, 2025 16 frontier models chose blackmail in a simulated company](https://enterrsi.si/incidents/sixteen-models-chose-blackmail/)[Later case · Jul 25, 2025 Gemini CLI lost a user's files during a simple move](https://enterrsi.si/incidents/gemini-cli-lost-user-files/)