The UK’s national privacy watchdog on Monday warned Clearview AI that the controversial facial-recognition firm faces a potential fine of £17 million, or 23 million. dollars, for “allegedly a serious violation” of the country’s data protection laws. The regulator also asked the company to delete the personal information of people in the UK.
Photos in Clearview AI’s database “potentially include data on a significant number of people from the UK and may have been obtained without the public’s knowledge from publicly available information online, including social media platforms,” the Information Commissioner’s Office said in a statement statement in Monday.
In February 2020, BuzzFeed News first reported that individuals at the National Crime Agency, the Metropolitan Police and several other police forces across the UK have been listed as having access to Clearview’s facial recognition technology, according to the data. internal. The company built its business by collecting people’s photos from the web and social media and indexing them in a vast facial recognition database.
In March, a BuzzFeed News investigation based on internal Clearview AI data revealed how the New York-based startup markets its facial recognition tool – by offering free trial of mobile app or desktop software – to thousands of officers and employees at over 1,800 US taxpayer-funded entities, according to data spanning February of this year. 2020. In August, another BuzzFeed News investigation revealed how police departments, prosecutors’ offices and interior departments from around the world performed nearly 14,000 searches in the same time period as Clearview AI’s. software.
Clearview AI no longer offers its services in the UK.
The UK’s Office of the Information Commissioner (ICO) has released the temporary orders following a joint investigation with Australia’s privacy regulator. Earlier this month, the Australian Office of Information Commissioner (OAIC) request the company destroys all pictures and faces of individuals living in the country, following an investigation on BuzzFeed News.
“I have significant concerns that personal data has been processed in a way that no one in the UK would have expected,” UK Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham said in a statement. “Therefore, it is correct for the ICO to warn people about the scale of this potential breach and the proposed action we are taking.”
Clearview CEO Hoan Ton-That said he was “deeply disappointed” by the interim decision.
Ton-That said in a statement: “I am not satisfied with the misinterpretation of Clearview AI’s technology for society. “I very much welcome the opportunity to engage in conversation with leaders and legislators about the true value of proven technology so essential to law enforcement that can continue to do for a safe community.”
Clearview AI attorney Kelly Hagedorn said the company is reviewing the appeal and further action. The ICO is expected to make a final decision in mid-2022.
