Clearview AI, a facial recognition company made a contract with ICE, also known as the Immigration and Customs Enforcement. For “mission support”, government contracting records show (as first noticed by the tech accountability nonprofit, Tech Inquiry. The purchase order for $224,000 explains “Clearview licenses” and lists “ICE mission support Dallas” as the contracting office.
ICE is recognized as a company that uses facial recognition technology; last month. The Washing Post disclosed that the agency, together with the FBI had gained access to the state drivers’ license database. (The Post termed it “a veritable facial recognition gold mine). Without the consent or permission of the drivers. The agency has therefore been condemned for their acts at the US southern border. And this has involved separating immigrant children from their families and holding down escapees permanently.
Clearview AI CEO’s Statement to The Verge
The CEO of Clearview AI, by name Joan Ton-That, said in an email statement to the Verge. He said:
“Clearview AI’ agreement is with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which uses our technology for their Child Exploitation Unit and ongoing criminal investigations”.
He further mentioned:
” Clearview AI has enabled HSI to rescue children across the country from sexual abuse and exploitation”.
Clearview AI has been in the limelight ever since the investigation from The New York Times in January displayed that its facial recognition technology was in general use between law enforcement agencies and private companies too. The technology could recognize someone through a photo. And place names to faces through its wonderful collection of 3 billion images scuffed from social media sites – normally against the platforms’ rules.
Federal Records
Federal records also revealed that Clearview signed a $50,000 contract with the US Air Force in December, last year (2019). In response to an “open call for innovative defense-related dual-purpose technologies/solutions with a clear airforce stakeholder need”.
A report from BuzzFeed News
In May, Clearview mentioned that it would quit selling of its all to private companies and would also “avoid transacting with non-governmental customers anywhere”. As the first broadcast by BuzzFeed News, a considerable number of companies, not excluding Bank of America, Walmart, NBA, as well as Macy’s, was revealed to be making use of Clearview’s technology, Although, the ICE contract would seem to fall in with the former pledge of Clearview.
A whole lot of technology companies have forwarded cease and desist orders to Clearview asking the company to take down any data gotten from social media posts. The American Civil Liberties Union also issued a lawsuit against Clearview in May for going against the Illinois Biometric Information Private Act (BIPA). The ACLU claimed that the company unlawfully gathered information on citizens of Illinois without their knowledge. The company also sold access to information to law enforcement and private companies.
Luckily, the outbreak of the coronavirus has thrown a bit of junk into the facial recognition company as facial masks make it very difficult for the algorithms to recognize a person. Facial recognition technology makes use of signals distinct to each person’s face. Such as the gap between their nose and mouth, to make a match. When those signals are not in place, they strive a lot.
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