Clearview AI agrees to limit sales of facial recognition data in the US
Notorious facial recognition company Clearview AI has agreed to permanently halt sales of its massive biometric database to all private companies and individuals in the United States as part of a legal settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union, per court records.
Monday's announcement marks the close of a two-year legal dispute brought by the ACLU and privacy advocate groups against the company over allegations that it had violated Illinois data laws. Additionally, Clearview will not offer any of its services to Illinois local and state law enforcement agencies for the next five years, though Federal agencies and state departments outside of Illinois will be unaffected. The settlement must still be approved by a federal judge before it takes effect.
“By requiring Clearview to comply with Illinois’ pathbreaking biometric privacy law not just in the state, but across the country, this settlement demonstrates that strong privacy laws can provide real protections against abuse,” Nathan Freed Wessler, a deputy director of the ACLU Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, said in Monday's statement. “Clearview can no longer treat people’s unique biometric identifiers as an unrestricted source of profit. Other companies would be wise to take note, and other states should follow Illinois’ lead in enacting strong biometric privacy laws.”
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[original story: Engadget]