Itch.io Temporarily Taken Offline Due to Erroneous AI-Generated Phishing Report

The indie game platform's domain was disabled after a brand protection service acting on behalf of Funko issued a false report, later resolved after public outcry.

Indie game marketplace Itch.io was briefly taken offline on December 8, 2024, following a false phishing report generated by BrandShield, an AI-powered brand protection service.
The report was linked to a fan-made page for the Funko Fusion video game, prompting the platform's domain registrar to disable the site without prior verification.
Itch.io's owner, Leaf Corcoran, criticized the automated process and lack of response from the registrar, despite removing the disputed page promptly.
Funko clarified that it did not request the takedown of the entire platform and worked to resolve the issue, blaming BrandShield for the error.
The incident sparked significant backlash from indie developers and gamers, raising concerns about the misuse of automated brand protection tools and their impact on online communities.