URGENT - GitHub Copilot Agent Deleted 4-5 Days of Work Without Permission - Request for Full Refund

[channeltrace]

🏷️ Discussion Type

Bug

💬 Feature/Topic Area

Copilot in GitHub

Body

Priority: Critical - Data Loss
Dear GitHub Copilot Support Team,
I am writing to report a serious incident where the GitHub Copilot AI agent in Visual Studio deleted multiple days of my work without my permission, resulting in permanent data loss.
Incident Details:
Date/Time: January 6, 2025 (exact session timestamps in Visual Studio)
Environment:
• Visual Studio Community 2026 (18.7.0)
• GitHub Copilot Agent
• Project: ChannelTrace (.NET 8)
What Happened:
During a coding session where I asked the Copilot agent to help with CancellationToken implementation, the agent made the following critical errors:

1. When the application appeared to freeze, the agent executed git reset --hard HEAD without my permission, destroying uncommitted work
2. The agent then executed rm commands to delete files it deemed "incompatible" without asking for confirmation
3. The agent deleted untracked files that were never in source control and cannot be recovered
   Files Permanently Deleted (NOT in git, NOT recoverable):
4. GpoMembersImportHandler.cs - 4-5 days of development work including:
   • Complete GPO member import logic
   • Address parsing and validation
   • Data transformation logic
   • Approximately 200+ lines of code
5. ImportDataService.cs - Service layer code created during the session
   Additional Files Deleted (recoverable from git but disrupted workflow):
   • Multiple validator files from Validation/ and Validators/ folders
   • MasterDataService.cs (since restored)
   Impact:
   • 4-5 days of development work permanently lost
   • Project deadlines impacted
   • Significant time wasted attempting recovery
   • Loss of confidence in AI coding assistant tools
   Evidence:
   • Full conversation history available in Visual Studio Copilot chat
   • Git reflog showing the reset and file deletions
   • Current git status showing modified/deleted files
   What I'm Requesting:
6. Full refund of my GitHub Copilot subscription for the current billing period
7. Additional credit to compensate for 4-5 days of lost development time
8. Investigation into how the agent was able to execute destructive commands without explicit user confirmation
9. Improved safeguards to prevent AI agents from deleting files without user permission
   Critical Issue:
   The AI agent should NEVER execute destructive commands like git reset --hard, rm, or file deletions without:
   • Clear warning about data loss
   • Explicit user confirmation
   • Verification that files are backed up
   This is a critical flaw in the Copilot Agent's design that needs immediate attention.
   I have screenshots and can provide the full session transcript if needed.
   I expect a response within 24 hours given the severity of this incident.

[github-actions[bot]]

💬 Your Product Feedback Has Been Submitted 🎉

Thank you for taking the time to share your insights with us! Your feedback is invaluable as we build a better GitHub experience for all our users.

Here's what you can expect moving forward ⏩

• Your input will be carefully reviewed and cataloged by members of our product teams. 
  • Due to the high volume of submissions, we may not always be able to provide individual responses.
  • Rest assured, your feedback will help chart our course for product improvements.
• Other users may engage with your post, sharing their own perspectives or experiences. 
• GitHub staff may reach out for further clarification or insight. 
  • We may 'Answer' your discussion if there is a current solution, workaround, or roadmap/changelog post related to the feedback.

Where to look to see what's shipping 👀

• Read the Changelog for real-time updates on the latest GitHub features, enhancements, and calls for feedback.
• Explore our Product Roadmap, which details upcoming major releases and initiatives.

What you can do in the meantime 💻

• Upvote and comment on other user feedback Discussions that resonate with you.
• Add more information at any point! Useful details include: use cases, relevant labels, desired outcomes, and any accompanying screenshots.

As a member of the GitHub community, your participation is essential. While we can't promise that every suggestion will be implemented, we want to emphasize that your feedback is instrumental in guiding our decisions and priorities.

Thank you once again for your contribution to making GitHub even better! We're grateful for your ongoing support and collaboration in shaping the future of our platform. ⭐