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Clearview AI Data Protection Overview:
- Who: The Information Commissioner’s Office has fined Clearview AI more than £7.5 million for violating UK data protection laws.
- Why: Clearview AI has reportedly collected UK residents’ images and added them to a facial recognition global database without their consent.
- Where: The UK.
According to BBC News reports, Clearview AI has been fined more than £7.5 million for violating UK data protection laws.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) claims that facial recognition company Clearview AI collects images online to create a facial recognition global database, violating UK data protection laws.
The ICO has ordered Clearview AI to delete and stop collecting UK residents’ personal data. The UK watchdog took this step following a joint investigation with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
Clearview AI Utilizes UK Residents’ Data Without Their Consent, ICO Says
Clearview AI reportedly takes publicly available images posted online on sites such as Facebook and Instagram without knowledge or permission. Its system allows users to upload photos and find matches within its vast database of facial images.
According to the ICO, globally, the facial recognition company has stored more than 20 billion images.
The ICO determined Clearview AI violated UK data protection laws in the following ways:
- It failed to utilize UK residents’ information in a fair and transparent manner
- It did not have a lawful reason to collect consumers’ data
- It did not meet the data protection standards required to collect biometric data
- It failed to limit the amount of time for which consumer data could be retained.
“The company not only enables identification of those people, but effectively monitors their behaviour and offers it as a commercial service,” UK information commissioner John Edwards said. “That is unacceptable.”
Clearview AI does not offer its services in the UK any longer, but its database still includes images from UK residents.
TechCrunch notes that international watchdogs such as the ICO have limited means to enforce data protection orders against foreign companies that refuse to cooperate. Earlier this year, Italy’s data protection regulator fined Clearview AI €20M, and the company has also faced sanctions from Canada and France.
The UK is also fending off potential cyberattacks from the Russia-linked group Killnet, which international cybersecurity authorities have deemed one of the biggest threats to infrastructure.
Do you think Clearview AI should be able to collect consumers’ facial images from publicly available websites without their consent? Join the discussion in the comments below!
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