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The rise and fall of Clearview.AI and the evolution of facial recognition - SiliconANGLE

Oct 02, 2023 - siliconangle.com
The article discusses the rise and fall of Clearview AI, a company that developed facial recognition software, as chronicled by technology reporter Kashmir Hill in her book “Your Face Belongs to Us: A Secretive Startup’s Quest to End Privacy as We Know It.” Clearview AI, which scraped the web for personal photos and accumulated over 30 billion images without explicit permission, faced numerous legal challenges and protests due to privacy concerns. Despite the backlash and the discontinuation of similar projects by tech giants like Google, Facebook, and IBM, Clearview AI remains in business, primarily serving law enforcement and government customers.

Hill's book also highlights the ongoing dilemma of facial recognition technology, with technology often outpacing regulations. It raises concerns about privacy, the right to be left alone, and the misuse of technology, especially in the context of wrongful arrests due to fallible technology and inadequate training data. The book underscores the need for citizens to protect themselves in a world where "being unseen is a privilege."

Key takeaways:

  • Clearview AI, a major innovator in facial recognition software, has faced numerous challenges and controversies, including legal issues, data breaches, and criticism for collecting images without explicit permission.
  • Other tech firms like Google, Facebook, Microsoft, IBM, Apple, and Amazon have also developed facial recognition software but have halted their projects due to concerns about deployment.
  • Clearview AI's software has led to several wrongful arrests due to misidentification, highlighting the fallibility of the technology and the potential for misuse.
  • Despite ongoing legal challenges and criticism, Clearview AI remains in business, primarily selling to law enforcement and government customers. The company's story underscores the tension between technological advancement and regulatory oversight.
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