Clearview AI's Facial Recognition Tech Is Being Used By The Justice Department, ICE, And The FBI:
When BuzzFeed News reported earlier this month that Clearview AI had used marketing materials that suggested it was pursuing a "rapid international expansion," the company was dismissive, noting that it was focused on the US and Canada.
The company's client list suggests otherwise. It shows that Clearview AI has expanded to at least 26 countries outside the US, engaging national law enforcement agencies, government bodies, and police forces in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, India, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
The log also has an entry for Interpol, which ran more than 320 searches. Reached for comment, the worldwide policing agency confirmed that "a small number of officers" in its Crimes Against Children unit had used Clearview's facial recognition app with a 30-day free trial account. That trial has now ended and "there is no formal relationship between Interpol and Clearview," the Interpol General Secretariat said in a statement.
It's unclear how Clearview is vetting potential international clients, particularly in countries with records of human rights violations or authoritarian regimes. In an interview with PBS, Ton-That said Clearview would never sell to countries "adverse to the US," including China, Iran, and North Korea. Asked by PBS if he would sell to countries where being gay is a crime, he didn't answer, stating once again that the company's focus is on the US and Canada.
Clearview, however, has already provided its software to organizations in countries that have laws against LGBTQ individuals, according to its documents. In Saudi Arabia, for example, the documents indicate that Clearview gave access to the Thakaa Center, also known as the AI Center of Advanced Studies, a Riyadh-based research center whose clients include Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Investment. Thakaa, which did not respond to a request for comment, was given access to the software earlier this month, according to the documents.
Previously:
Clearview AI Reports Entire Client List Was Stolen
Canadian Privacy Commissioners to Investigate "Creepy" Facial Recognition Firm Clearview AI
Clearview AI Hit with Cease-And-Desist from Google, Facebook Over Facial Recognition Collection
Clearview App Lets Strangers Find Your Name, Info with Snap of a Photo, Report Says
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 28 2020, @07:55PM (4 children)
I have no doubt that you're correct. However, corporations will use this to try to sell you crap you don't want. Governments will disappear people.
Creepy ads I can handle. Years of torture in a secret prison (or just two bullets in the back of the head) is just a *little* less palatable, no?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 29 2020, @03:21AM (1 child)
Any data corporations have can and will be given to governments, eventually. It's a mistake to view corporations and governments as completely separate entities when it comes to mass surveillance and many other issues.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 29 2020, @08:56PM
I tell you what. I'll show you some ads for stuff you don't want, then I'll shoot you in the head twice.
After that, I'd appreciate you filling out a questionnaire detailing your subjective responses to both.
(Score: 2) by PiMuNu on Sunday March 01 2020, @09:19PM (1 child)
> corporations will use this to try to sell you crap you don't want
Ever had a bad credit rating? Want to get a bank account? Want to buy a house? Best of luck.
Note 1: not having a bank account is pretty bad as more and more stuff goes cashless. How long before you can't buy *food* or have to drive miles to the nearest expensive grocery store?
Note 2: I had a bad credit rating for a while, never figured out why - suspect bad credit of a flat mate or previous tenant (remember, checking your credit rating makes your credit rating *worse*). I was refused even a basic current account, with no explanation, despite having never had any debt beyond a basic student loan.
> Years of torture in a secret prison
I agree physical torture is "worse" than being excluded from the banking system; but don't underestimate the power of the corporations, where exclusion from the banking system is probably equivalent to being "sent to Siberia".
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 02 2020, @04:05AM
BZZT! Wrong. Thanks for playing.
https://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/get-my-free-credit-report [ftc.gov]
https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/finance/does-checking-credit-hurt-credit-score/ [nerdwallet.com]
https://www.creditkarma.com/advice/i/hard-credit-inquiries-and-soft-credit-inquiries/ [creditkarma.com]
https://www.credit.com/credit-scores/request-your-credit-score-it-wont-hurt-credit/ [credit.com]
https://www.equifax.com/personal/education/credit/score/will-checking-your-credit-hurt-credit-scores/ [equifax.com]
https://www.creditsesame.com/blog/credit-score/does-checking-your-credit-hurt-your-credit-score/ [creditsesame.com]
https://creditcards.usnews.com/articles/how-does-checking-my-credit-affect-my-credit-score [usnews.com]
https://www.thebalance.com/does-checking-your-credit-score-lower-it-4769382 [thebalance.com]