# False Positive **Domain:** Classification and due process **Doc Type:** Developed Concept Node **Maturity:** Developed **Collection:** [[collections/Gamification|Gamification Collection]] ## Definition A **false positive** occurs when a system classifies a person, object, or event as belonging to a target class when it does not. The term names an error relative to ground truth, not merely a decision someone dislikes. ## Significance False positives can consume resources, deny access, stigmatize people, or intensify the very grievance an intervention seeks to reduce. Their rate cannot be interpreted without base prevalence, threshold, review procedure, and the cost of missed cases. ## Sources - NIST, [AI Risk Management Framework](https://www.nist.gov/itl/ai-risk-management-framework) ## Routes [[wiki/Base Rate|Base Rate]] · [[wiki/Cost Matrix|Cost Matrix]] · [[wiki/Testimonial Injustice|Testimonial Injustice]] · [[wiki/Representational Due Process|Representational Due Process]]